Barr's Emerger (BWO/PMD)

Materials

How to Tie the Barr's Emerger (BWO/PMD)

1. 1

   Step 1

   Place the curved hook in the vise and start thread behind the eye, wrapping back to create a thread base to the bend.

2. 2

   Step 2

   Select 8-12 brown or ginger hackle fibers and tie them in at the bend as a trailing shuck about one shank length long. Trim butts and bind down.

3. 3

   Step 3

   Dub a slim, tapered abdomen forward to about 2/3 the length of the hook shank. Use olive for BWO or pale yellow for PMD.

   Keep the abdomen thin—this is a sparse, delicate pattern.

4. 4

   Step 4

   Select a dozen dun or pale hackle fibers for the wingcase. Tie the clump in by the butt at the front of the abdomen, tips pointing forward over the hook eye. Secure butts and trim flush.

5. 5

   Step 5

   Dub a small, tighter thorax with gray muskrat (BWO) or pale yellow/tan (PMD) dubbing, leaving room at the eye for a head.

6. 6

   Step 6

   Pull wingcase fibers over the top of the thorax, flat, and tie down just behind the hook eye. Trim excess.

7. 7

   Step 7

   Divide the remaining wingcase fibers and pull a few down each side as legs, binding in place with thread wraps.

8. 8

   Step 8

   Build a small thread head and whip finish. Optionally add a tiny drop of head cement.