The Blue Winged Olive (BWO) is a popular fly pattern among anglers, particularly when targeting trout. It imitates a small mayfly, which is a common food source for fish in freshwater streams and rivers. Learning to tie this fly is a rewarding skill that allows you to customize your patterns and adapt to local fishing conditions. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced tier, mastering the Blue Winged Olive can significantly enhance your success on the water.

In this blog post on how to tie a blue winged oliv, we will provide step-by-step instructions on how to tie this fly pattern. We will also discuss the materials needed and offer tips and variations for different fishing situations.

Materials Needed

To tie a blue winged olive, you will need the following materials:

Hook:

The standard hook size for a BWO is #18, but you can use sizes ranging from #16 to #20.

Thread:

Choose a thread in olive or grey color, typically size 8/0.

Tail:

For the tail, you can use either blue dun hackle fibers or microfibers. These materials imitate the delicate tails of mayflies.

Body:

The body of a BWO is made with dubbing, which can be purchased or made from rabbit fur. The most common colors for BWO bodies are olive and tan.

Wing:

As the name suggests, the wing of a Blue Winged Olive fly is made with blue CDC feathers. You can also use white or cream-colored CDC feathers for variation.

8 Step-by-step Instructions on How to Tie a Blue Winged Oliv

Step 1: Prepare Your Hook

Secure your hook in the vise with the hook shank positioned horizontally. Tighten the vise to ensure the hook is held firmly in place, as this stability is essential for tying a precise and durable fly.

Once the hook is secured, attach your thread just behind the hook eye by wrapping it around the shank several times. Trim any excess thread to keep your workspace clean and ready for the next steps.

Step 2: Create a Tail

Next, take your blue dun hackle fibers or microfibers and measure them against the hook shank. The tail should be approximately one and a half times the length of the hook shank.

Once you have measured your tail, secure it to the top of the hook shank with several thread wraps. Trim off any excess material.

Step 3: Add Dubbing for Body

Now, take your dubbing material and form it into a thin noodle shape. Place this noodle shape at the base of the tail, where it meets the hook shank. Wrap your thread over this dubbing to secure it in place.

The dubbing will form the body of your BWO, so make sure to adjust the thickness according to your desired size and profile.

Step 4: Create a Wing with CDC Feathers

Take a blue CDC feather and strip off some fibers from one side until you have a small bundle. Place this bundle on top of the hook shank just in front of the dubbed body. Secure it with several thread wraps.

Make sure to position the wing at an angle that mimics the natural wings of a mayfly.

Step 5: Add More Dubbing for Thorax 

To create the thorax of the Blue Winged Olive, take a small amount of dubbing material, preferably the same color as the body or slightly darker for contrast. Form a thin dubbing noodle on your thread by twisting the dubbing around it. Carefully wrap the dubbing around the hook shank, starting directly in front of the wing and working your way toward the eye of the hook. 

This step builds up the thorax, which is a critical part of the fly’s profile, as it mimics the bulkier midsection of a mayfly. Be sure to maintain a smooth, tapered shape and avoid adding too much material to keep the fly looking realistic. Once the thorax is complete, proceed to secure the dubbing with a few additional thread wraps. 

Step 6: Secure CDC Wing with More Thread Wraps 

Once the thorax is complete, use your thread to make additional wraps around the base of the CDC wing. This ensures the wing is securely fastened to the hook shank and properly aligned.

Make sure the thread wraps are snug but not overly tight, as excessive tension can crush the CDC fibers and affect the fly’s buoyancy. When the wing feels stable and positioned correctly, proceed to the next step. 

Step 7: Trim CDC Wing Fibers

Using a sharp pair of scissors, trim the excess CDC fibers off the top of the wing to create a neat, even profile. You can also angle your cuts slightly toward the front to give the fly a more realistic look.

Once you have trimmed off any stray fibers, proceed to secure the wing with several additional thread wraps. This will help keep it in place during casting and fishing.  

Step 8: Whip Finish and Trim Thread 

To finish your blue-winged oliv, make several whip finishes with your tying thread at the head of the fly. Cut off any remaining thread and apply some head cement or glue to strengthen the head and prevent unraveling.

And there you have it – a beautifully tied Blue Winged Olive fly! With practice, this process will become more comfortable and faster, allowing you to tie multiple flies in no time.

Following this basic pattern on how to tie a blue winged oliv, you can also experiment with different materials and variations to create a more personalized fly that suits your local fishing conditions. For example, using a lighter or darker dubbing color for the body can mimic different species of mayflies. You can also add CDC fibers to the tail or use a hackle instead of CDC feathers for the wing.

Do You Need to Get Help From a Professional?

If you are struggling to tie the Blue Winged Olive or any other fly pattern, don’t hesitate to seek guidance from a professional fly tier or experienced angler. They can offer valuable tips and techniques to improve your tying skills and help you tie more effective and durable flies.

Additionally, attending fly-tying workshops or watching online tutorials can also provide you with helpful insights and techniques for tying different patterns. The key is to keep practicing and experimenting until you find what works best for you.

Tips and Variations

• Change the color of your materials to imitate different mayfly species or match local hatch patterns.
• For added strength, use a thin coating of UV resin on the body before adding the wing.
• Experiment with different hook sizes to match various insects’ sizes throughout the year.
• Add some weight to the fly by wrapping lead wire around the shank before tying it to the tail. This will make it sink faster, making it ideal for fishing in deeper waters or fast-moving currents.
• Tie in a sparse amount of Krystal Flash or tinsel along the side of the body to give your fly some flash and attract more attention from fish.
• Use a different color for the thread wraps on top of the wing to create a realistic division between the wings. This technique is known as “splitting the wing.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is the Purpose of the Cdc Feathers in a Blue Winged Olive Fly?

A1: The CDC feathers represent the wings of a mayfly and provide natural movement and buoyancy to the fly. They also add a touch of realism to the fly’s profile.

Q2: Can I Use Different Materials for the Body and Wing?

A2: Yes, you can experiment with different materials such as foam, deer hair, or even synthetic materials like Antron. Just make sure to adjust your tying technique accordingly, as some materials may require different steps or securing methods.

Q3: How Do I Know Which Hook Size to Use?

A3: The size of your hook will depend on the size of the mayflies in your local area. Refer to insect identification guides or ask fellow anglers for advice on which sizes are best for specific seasons and bodies of water.  You can also experiment with different sizes to see what works best for you.

Q4: What Makes the Blue Winged Olive Fly Effective?

A4: The Blue Winged Olive fly is a popular and versatile pattern because it imitates a common mayfly species found in many bodies of water. It also has a realistic profile and natural movement, making it appealing to trout and other fish species. Additionally, the combination of CDC feathers and dubbing materials creates an effective silhouette on the water’s surface, making it easy for fish to spot and strike.

Conclusion

Tying your own Blue Winged Olive fly not only allows you to develop a deeper connection with the art of fly fishing but also gives you the ability to customize patterns to suit your local conditions and preferences. With the proper materials, attention to detail, and practice, you can create effective, beautifully crafted flies that mimic natural mayflies and attract fish with ease.

This process can be incredibly rewarding, offering a sense of accomplishment while improving your fishing success. Whether you are a seasoned angler or a beginner, the Blue Winged Olive is a must-have pattern in your fly box, embodying the perfect balance of simplicity and effectiveness. Thanks for reading this article on how to tie a blue winged oliv.