Bodkin / Patterns

Barr's Emerger Blue Dun

Nymph · Trout · Intermediate · 2 versions

Note: Contested against a published dressing: MISMATCH. Three independent published dressings of John Barr's emerger agree with each other and disagree with our all-blue-dun version. Source: FlyGuysNLies — "Barr's Emerger Fly Pattern - Recipe & Fishing Tips" — https://flyguysnlies.com/flies/barrs-emerger/

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Standard dry/emerger hook, 16-22
  • Thread Gray 8/0

Materials

  • Tail Blue dun material (hackle fibers)
  • Abdomen Blue dun gray material (fine dubbing)
  • Thorax Dark dun gray material (fine dubbing)
  • Legs Blue dun rubber legs (a few hackle fibers)

How to tie it

  1. Mount the hook and start gray thread, running it back to the bend.
  2. Bind a short, splayed tail of blue dun hackle fibers about half a shank long.
  3. Dub a slim, tapered abdomen forward to the 60% mark using half the dubbing you think you need.
  4. Tie a few blue dun fibers along each side of the thorax as sprawling legs, reaching the hook point.
  5. Dub a slightly darker gray thorax over the leg butts up to the eye, keeping it plump.
  6. Whip finish and add a tiny drop of cement; leave the fly untreated so the abdomen hangs in the film.

Other versions

1 more in the app: Beadhead.

Tying videos

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