How It’s Tied
Crafting a buzzer fly is both simple and versatile, requiring just a few key materials: a thin hook, thread, wire, and sometimes a small bead. The slender body is created by tightly wrapping thread around the hook shank, often in vibrant colors to mimic different stages of the chironomid larva. Adding wire ribbing not only enhances segmentation but also boosts the fly’s durability, ensuring it withstands multiple strikes.
What It Mimics
Designed to replicate the chironomid midge pupa, the buzzer fly is a trout’s dream meal—especially in stillwater environments. These midges spend a significant portion of their life cycle in the pupal stage, slowly rising to the surface to hatch. The buzzer’s lifelike design perfectly captures this critical phase, making it a must-have in any angler’s fly box. But its appeal doesn’t stop at trout; carp, bream, chub, ide, and roach also fall for its convincing imitation of other aquatic insects and worms.
Where It’s Used
The buzzer truly shines in stillwater settings like lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Whether fished near the bottom or suspended at mid-depths, its effectiveness is unmatched. Pair it with a floating, intermediate, or sinking line to mimic the natural ascent of midge pupae. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of watching a buzzer slowly drift toward a lurking fish—it’s as exhilarating as seeing a trout rise to a dry fly!
Watch and Learn
Ready to tie your own? Check out the fly-tying video below. For more expert tips and tutorials, head over to Steve’s YouTube channel and take your fly-fishing game to the next level!
How It’s Tied: A Step-by-Step Guide
The RS2 is crafted on a straight or curved nymph hook, typically ranging from sizes 16 to 24. To create the body, fine dubbing in colors like gray, black, or olive is used, often accented with a delicate wire or thread rib for added segmentation.
Key Features That Make It Stand Out
One of the RS2’s most distinctive traits is its tail, crafted from microfibbets or hackle fibers to perfectly mimic the split tail of a mayfly. The wing, made from Antron or similar synthetic material, can be left long to imitate an emerging insect or trimmed short for a classic nymph profile, as shown in the image above.
A Simple Yet Effective Finish
The fly’s head is kept minimal, formed by the tying thread and secured with a whip finish. A touch of head cement ensures durability, making it ready for countless casts.
What It Perfectly Imitates
Designed to replicate mayflies in their nymph and emerger stages, the RS2’s slender body, split tail, and pronounced wing make it versatile enough to match a wide range of mayfly species, adapting seamlessly to local hatches.
Where and How to Fish It
The RS2 shines in rivers and streams, especially during mayfly hatches. It can be fished solo, paired with other nymphs, or as part of a dry-dropper setup beneath a dry fly, offering endless possibilities for anglers.
Why It’s a Must-Have for Anglers
The Blue Winged Olive is a legendary dry and wet fly pattern, renowned for its uncanny ability to deceive trout. Its natural mayfly-like appearance makes it a staple in every fly fisher’s arsenal, delivering consistent success on the water.
Step-by-Step Tying Guide
Crafting the perfect Blue Winged Olive begins with a short or medium shank hook. Start by wrapping olive dubbing or thread around the shank to form a slender, tapered body—a key feature for mimicking the delicate silhouette of a mayfly. For the tail, a few strands of hackle fibers or microfibbets add just the right touch of movement.
What truly sets this fly apart are its wings. Using upright and divided materials like synthetic fibers, mallard flank feathers, or CDC feathers creates an irresistibly realistic profile on the water. Finish with a grizzly or dun-colored hackle wrapped around the thorax, forming a bushy collar that ensures buoyancy and mimics the natural legs of a mayfly.
The Science Behind Its Success
The Blue Winged Olive is a masterclass in imitation, designed to replicate the adult Baetis mayfly—a year-round staple in a trout’s diet. Its lifelike wings, precise body taper, and expertly tied hackle make it a go-to pattern, especially during hatch periods when fish are actively feeding on the surface.
Where and How to Fish It
Versatility is one of this fly’s greatest strengths. Whether you’re fishing rivers, streams, lakes, or ponds, the Blue Winged Olive excels at tempting trout and other mayfly-loving species. The secret? Match the hatch. When Baetis mayflies are present, fish this fly with a dead-drift technique, and watch as strikes come effortlessly.
Watch and Learn: Fly Tying Video
Ready to tie your own? Check out our step-by-step video guide to perfecting the Blue Winged Olive and start filling your fly box with this trout-tempting pattern!