Krystal Emerger

TIED BY GALE DOUDY 

Hook
Tiemco 100 size 16 & 18
Thread
Black 8/0
Shuck
Olive Z-Lon
Body
Black & Olive Krystal Flash
Thorax
Peacock herls
Legs
Partridge or Quail
Head
Glass peacock bead if desired

 Photos by Cynthia Hansen

     
 
 
Step 1. Insert bead onto hook. Attach thread behind bead and wrap to the bend of the hook. Tie in Z-lon at the bend of the hook for a trailing shuck. Measure for body length and trim.
Step 2. Take thread to thorax area 2 hook eye lengths behind the bead. Double a strand of Black Krystal Flash and tie on at the thorax area.
Step 3. Double a strand of olive Krystal Flash and tie on at the thorax area. Wrap all Krystal Flash to the bend of the hook with thread.

  
 

 
 
 
Step 4. Insert strands of Krystal Flash into a Walker dubbit tool. Spin strands into a rope. Wrap rope forward to the thorax area. Secure and trim excess.
Step 5. Tie in 5 peacock herls by the tip at the thorax area.
Step 6. Make a peacock rope with dubbit tool and wrap forward to form thorax.

  
 

   
 
 
Step 7. Tie in a soft hackle by the tip behind the bead.
Step 8. Wrap soft hackle 1 to 2 times behind the bead. Trim excess and whip finish.
Finished fly

This East Portal brown took a Krystal Flash emerger during a BWO hatch

I saw a version of this fly tied at a FFF conclave in Livingston MT years ago. I tie this fly down to a size 22. By using the Larry Walker’s dubbit tool I can create the very fine segmented body found on a BWO nymph. The sparkle of the olive and black combination really works well. This has been my best BWO emerger. By using yellow and brown an effective PMD emerger can also be made. I also tie this using the reverse hackle technique for a shuck instead of Z lon. I have turned a lot of people on to this pattern and all love it. It is another of my must have flies.
Gale Doudy