Midge / EmergersBatwing Emerger

Natural Behavior: Baetis emergers hang vertically in the film, wings partially unfurled while bodies remain trapped in nymphal shucks. This transitional silhouette persists for 30-90 seconds as they complete their vulnerable molt.

Where Trout Eat It: Trout intercept this CDC emerger hanging in the surface film during Blue-Winged Olive hatches on pressured freestone rivers like the Madison and Yellowstone. The folded CDC 'batwing' creates a realistic halfway profile that selective fish key on during cloudy afternoon hatches.

How to Fish It: Fish in the film with drag-free drifts, either alone or behind a small parachute dry for tracking. The CDC wing provides natural buoyancy—grease your leader but not the fly, presenting it with upstream casts on freestone waters for optimal drift.

Best Water: Most effective in tail-outs, back eddies, and soft seams of the Madison and Yellowstone Rivers during BWO hatches. Target slicks and foam lines in slow runs where trout refuse traditional dries in favor of emergers on pressured water.

Strike Type: Trout inhale the fly with barely visible sips—watch for the slightest surface disturbance near your drift line.

Rigging Suggestions: Can be fished alone on 5X-6X tippet or in combination with a buoyant dry fly as the point fly. Position the emerger 18-24 inches below the dry.

Seasonal Timing: Most productive from April through October during mayfly emergences, with peak effectiveness during consistent hatch periods. Best used during a mayfly hatch when fish are focused on emergers rather than fully emerged duns.

Pro Tips: The CDC feathers give this fly excellent buoyancy in the surface film, while the Solarez Bone Dry UV resin creates a realistic and visible translucent shell that mimics the emerging nymph's shuck.