Chocolate Emerger

Hook:   Tiemco 101 or equivalent, sizes 18-22
Thread: Olive 8/0
Tail:   Several fibers of mottled wood-duck flank feathers
Rib:    Fine copper wire
Body:   Fine chocolate fur w/ guard hairs removed
Wing:   Short tuft of grey Antron yarn or Zelon

1. Tie in the tail & attach the copper wire at the bend of the hook.
2. Dub a slender abdomen, then wind the rib forward & tie it off.
3. Tie in the yarn wing at the front of the abdomen. (trim to length after completing the fly).
4. Dub the thorax & whip finish.

The chocolate emereger is an emerging mayfly nymph effective for Baetis or Pseudocloeon. This pattern can be tied in other shades to match small, free-swinning mayfly nymphs on your local waters. I have found this fly to be deadly in chocolate or olive. Fish this tiny nymph on an absolute dead drift by using tiny split shot to suspend the nymph just above the bottom. This pattern was described by Rich Osthoff in American Angler (Jul/Aug'95).

Gene Holowachuk (geneh@usa.net)