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Barr's Emerger BWO

How do you tie a Barr's Emerger BWO?

Barr's Emerger BWO is a emerger fly pattern for trout. Find its 7 materials and 17 tying steps below.

Difficulty
3 of 5
Target species
trout
Pattern designer
John Barr

Added to catalog · Updated

At the vise

Materials

  • Emerger Hook, TMC 2488, sizes 18-22
  • Thread (6/0), Olive
  • Brown/Ginger Hackle Fibers (trailing shuck)
  • Olive Beaver Dubbing (abdomen)
  • Flashabou, Pearl
  • Wood Duck Flank
  • Natural Beaver Fur

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Tying instructions

  1. Mash the barb and secure the hook in the vise.

  2. Start thread behind the hook eye, wrap rearward, and snip off the tag.

  3. Strip 8-10 fibers from a brown or ginger hackle feather, align tips, and snip off curlies.

  4. Secure butt ends of fibers on top of the hook shank with thread wraps, binding them into the bend.

  5. Advance thread to halfway between the hook point and barb, then trim fibers to hook gap length.

  6. Dub a thin noodle of olive beaver dubbing, about an inch and a quarter long, on the thread.

  7. Wrap dubbing from the base of the trailing shuck forward to build a tapered body, ending at the hook point.

  8. Tie in a single strand of Flashabou on top of the shank, secure to behind the hook eye, and snip excess.

  9. Remove lower webby part of a wood duck feather, strip 8-10 fibers, and trim curlies.

  10. Secure wood duck butt ends to the top of the shank almost up to the eye.

  11. Dub a shorter, thin noodle of natural colored beaver fur on the thread.

  12. Wrap dubbing from just back of the hook eye rearward to the hook point, then forward again.

  13. Fold wood duck case over and secure with thread wraps.

  14. Pull Flashabou over, lock it down, fold back, secure with wraps, and snip excess.

  15. Separate wood duck butt ends into two clumps, pull down each side, and lock with thread wraps.

  16. Complete the head with a four or five turn whip finish, then snip the thread.

  17. Pull wood duck butts back and trim to form legs slightly longer than the thorax.

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