Skip to content

BWO or Baetis

Blue Wing Olive hatches are one of the most consistent and important mayfly hatches for trout, especially in spring and fall.

Best Flies for the Blue Wing Olive (BWO) Hatch

Best time: Overcast days, late morning to afternoon
Season: Spring and fall (can occur year-round)
Water: Slow to moderate currents, tailwaters, spring creeks
Trout behavior: Selective feeding on small mayflies and emergers

Match your fly to trout behavior—dry flies for surface feeding, emergers for selective fish, and nymphs when trout are feeding below.

Read More

Filters

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z All
  • Save 10% Save %

    CDC Pheasant Tail-Beadhead

    $0.89
    $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99
    $0.89 - $0.89
    $0.89

    A CDC is typically used on dry flies as it naturally floats fairly well. However, on nymphs it can create an incredible amount of movement that ca...

    View full details
    $0.89
    $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99
    $0.89 - $0.89
    $0.89
    Save 10% Save %
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Comparadun

    $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99

    This very versatile pattern is a great spring creek pattern.  Also very popular in slack water and pools. Great emerger and spent wing spinner pat...

    View full details
    $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    CDC Comparadun

    $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99

    Comparaduns and Sparkle Duns are found in almost every fisherman’s fly box. Most guys have a preference, some prefer the sparkle, other like a com...

    View full details
    $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    CDC Biot BWO Thorax

    $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99

    Thorax style flies feature a single wing, and more hackling. Often fished with a 'V' cut in the bottom hackle to allow it ride ...

    View full details
    $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Cove's Pheasant Tail

    $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99

    Everyone, in mean everyone, has a pheasant tail nymph in a fly box. The Cove's Pheasant Tail is yet another pattern spawned from the ingenious p...

    View full details
    $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  • Save 10% Save %

    Cosmic Baetis - Tungsten

    $1.01
    $1.12
    $1.12 - $1.12
    $1.12
    $1.01 - $1.01
    $1.01

    This pattern has a lot going on, which should translate to quite a nice catch rate when fished. Tied in natural trout colors with a ton of attract...

    View full details
    $1.01
    $1.12
    $1.12 - $1.12
    $1.12
    $1.01 - $1.01
    $1.01
    Save 10% Save %
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  • Save 10% Save %

    Camden Baetis - Glass Bead

    $0.89
    $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99
    $0.89 - $0.89
    $0.89

    A customer request, the Camden Baetis is great mayfly imitation. Made specifically for the prolific BWO hatches that most fly fisherman feverish a...

    View full details
    $0.89
    $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99
    $0.89 - $0.89
    $0.89
    Save 10% Save %
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Cripple Thor - Mayfly Dry Fly

    $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99

    Blue wing olives are one of the most iconic hatches. Fly fisherman relish them as do the fish. Being so popular this one hatch has created a pleth...

    View full details
    $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  • Save 10% Save %

    Crystal Hunchback-Beadhead

    $0.89
    $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99
    $0.89 - $0.89
    $0.89

    Extremely effective mayfly pattern especially in the Sierra’s. Originally designed by Andy Burk. Terribly hard to take a picture of... Yellowish...

    View full details
    $0.89
    $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99
    $0.89 - $0.89
    $0.89
    Save 10% Save %
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Christiaens' GT Adult - Montana Fly Co

    $3.25
    $3.25 - $3.25
    $3.25 - $3.25
    $3.25

    It's a great all-around mayfly dry The klinkhammer-style curved hook leaves much of the fly's body under the surface, represents a struggling emer...

    View full details
    $3.25
    $3.25 - $3.25
    $3.25 - $3.25
    $3.25
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.

Blue Wing Olive (BWO) hatches often bring out selective trout, especially on pressured rivers and tailwaters. Matching size, profile, and presentation is usually the difference between refusals and eats. Most BWO fishing happens in sizes 16–20, with emergers outfishing dries when trout are feeding subtly in the film. Target softer seams, eddies, and slower edges during active hatches.

BWO hatches peak in spring and fall and are strongest during overcast or rainy weather. These mayflies can hatch multiple times a year and often produce longer, more consistent windows than other mayflies.

Trout key in on specific stages of the insect, so adjust your flies as their behavior shifts. Use dries when fish are rising confidently, switch to RS2s or emergers during subtle sips, and downsize if fish are refusing your presentation.

Compare products

{"one"=>"Select 2 or 3 items to compare", "other"=>"{{ count }} of 3 items selected"}

Select first item to compare

Select second item to compare

Select third item to compare

Compare