Fly Tying Inventory
Blue Wing Olive Dun
A classic and essential mayfly imitation designed to match the adult Baetis mayfly — one of the most important hatches in trout fishing. BWO hatches occur from spring through fall, often on overcast and drizzly days when other insects are less active. The pattern's slim olive body and dark dun wings perfectly replicate the natural insect's profile on the water surface.
🪶 Ready to tie this?
This pattern needs 6 materials. Sign up free to check which ones you already own.
Materials
Standard dry fly hook (TMC 100, Daiichi 1100), sizes 14-22
Olive or olive dun 8/0 (70 denier)
Coq de Leon fibers or dark dun hackle fibers
Fine olive dubbing (Superfine or natural)
Dark dun hackle tips, upright and divided
Blue dun or medium dun dry fly hackle
How to Tie the Blue Wing Olive Dun
- 1
Step 1
Mount hook and start olive thread, wrapping a smooth base to the bend.
- 2
Step 2
Tie in a sparse tail of Coq de Leon or dun hackle fibers, about shank length.
Keep tails sparse — BWOs have delicate, fine tails.
- 3
Step 3
Dub a slim, tapered body of fine olive dubbing forward to the 2/3 point.
The body should be very thin and tapered, mimicking the slender Baetis abdomen.
- 4
Step 4
Tie in matched dark dun hackle tips as upright divided wings.
Wings should be about shank length and sit upright.
- 5
Step 5
Select a blue dun hackle and wind 3-4 turns behind and in front of the wings.
- 6
Step 6
Build a small thread head, whip finish, and apply head cement.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7vxVRzWrmc
Credit: Traditional pattern, refined by many tyers including Mike Lawson