WD-40
Description
The WD-40 is Mark Engler’s sparse emerger for Baetis, Blue Winged Olive, midges, and small mayflies. Its thread body, wood duck tail and wing case, and muskrat thorax keep the fly slim and natural for clear water, tailwaters, and pressured trout.
Recommended sizes: 18-22
Materials
- Dubbing: Gray muskrat dubbing
- Thread: Olive 8/0 or 70-Denier Thread
- Hook: Scud/Emerger Hook
- Tails, Win Case: Woodduck Gold Mallard Flank
Tying Instructions
- 1.
Start the Danville 6/0 thread about two eye lengths behind the hook eye. Build a thread base down to about halfway into the bend.
- 2.
Select a small clump of mallard flank fibers. Pull them from the stem and bundle them neatly. Square the tips by breaking them off with your thumbnail.
- 3.
Measure the tail to about half a hook shank in length. Tie the fibers in at the bend and wrap forward over the butt ends toward the hook eye.
- 4.
Wrap the thread back about two-thirds of the shank and then forward again to form a very slight taper. Keep the body slim.
- 5.
Pull the remaining butt ends of the mallard fibers backward over the body. These will form the wing case later.
- 6.
Apply a generous amount of gray muskrat or beaver dubbing to the thread. Wrap a prominent, round thorax just behind the hook eye. This is a key feature of the pattern.
- 7.
Pull the mallard fibers forward over the thorax and secure them with a few thread wraps.
- 8.
Fold the fibers backward and wrap over them to lock them in. Trim the excess close to the head.
- 9.
Build a small thread head, whip finish, and trim the thread. Optionally apply a small drop of head cement.