photos: Clint Bova
Many waterborne specimens in the spring are slightly darker shades like the Hendricksons and caddis. They are often a dark steely dun and on a value scale maybe a 70 or 80% gray. The small Olive Mayfly comes off the water in a darker value than its counterparts during the midsummer months. Tying Mayfly micropatterns can be challenging not because of the specific techniques involved but because of proportion and uniform scale. If you don't already have the book by Darrel Martin “Micropatterns” get a copy it is a wealth of informative insights and creative tying techniques that will stretch your creativity. The below sequence uses basic fly tying techniques that will allow you to knock out dozens of these little guys very quickly for your early season stash.
Using waterproofed Antron in a cream color lightly singe
a tag end on your spool card (only a few fibers) less is more
length should be around half the length of your hook shank or
slightly less, tie in a olive dyed peacock quill dark leading edge
to the rear shiny side facing up
Varnish length of quill and set aside to dry (I use Holley Hansen Topcoat)
I do not use UV resin anymore for the simple reason that it does not
stay shiny and clear for the lifespan of the fly. The protein in your fingernails is
the same proteins that make the peacock quills so it stands to reason this is a
cheap and durable coating made for this purpose!
Tie in underwing Aero Dry Wing extends to length of abdomen
short of the hook bend, dub in olive colored SLF Squirrel loosely
Now in front of your dubbing ball tie in dun CDC feathers
for a fly this size 3 is sufficient, wing should extend to hook bend
Shucking Little Olive ~
Hook: TMC 531 short shank dry fly hook or similar sizes 18-24
Thread: Veevus 16/0 Olive
Body: Peacock quill dyed olive varnished w/ Holly Hansen Topcoat
Trailing Shuck: Cream colored or tan waterproof Antron
Wing: CDC Medium Dun
Underwing: Tiemco Aero Dry Wing Lt. Dun
Dubbing: SLF Squirrel or Beaver Belly
This is a great pattern for slow shallow spooky water. Like many of my thorax style drys it has been a pattern that I have evolved over the past 26 years. When I was first introduced to a similar pattern up in Canada on the Grand River I was smitten. My Scottish guide handed me something that represented a piece of lint that fell out of a dryer vent. I then caught a 25" Brown in a riffle that was no deeper than 12" on a bright afternoon. The original fly had a dubbed body an Antron trailing shuck and topped with a single oiler puff CDC feather...simple stupid!
~ Clint Bova