Midge / EmergersJuju Emerger
The Juju Emerger is Charlie Craven's versatile mayfly emerger that borrows heavily from his famous Jujubaetis nymph pattern and the popular RS2 emerger. This elegant pattern features split microfibett tails for stability, a Super Hair abdomen that creates realistic segmentation, a sparsely dubbed thorax, India hen legs, and a CDC wing with a white fluoro fiber topping for visibility. The pattern can be fished as a traditional nymph or in the surface film as an emerging mayfly.
Spring, Summer, Fall
Advanced
Trout
Overview
This Charlie Craven pattern from Charlie's Fly Box showcases his thoughtful approach to emerger imitations. The Juju Emerger represents just one frame of the "emergence movie" - that critical moment when a mayfly nymph transitions to its adult form. The split microfibett tails add surface area to help the fly float in the film, while the CDC wing provides buoyancy. The white fluoro fiber topping adds visibility for the angler while suggesting the emerging wing case of the natural. By altering colors and sizes, this pattern effectively imitates a host of different mayflies from Baetis to Pale Morning Duns, Sulphurs, and even Green Drakes.
Pattern Characteristics
Materials
Hook: Tiemco 101, #18-22
Thread: Veevus 14/0 (or Tiemco 16/0), olive
Tails: Microfibetts, brown (split)
Abdomen: Super Hair, olive and brown
Thorax: Superfine Dubbing, olive-brown
Legs: India Hen Saddle, mottled brown
Wing: CDC, natural gray
Topping: Fluoro Fiber, white
Head: Superfine Dubbing, olive-brown
Fishing Tips
Season
Most effective during spring through fall mayfly hatches. Particularly productive during Baetis hatches in spring and fall, and PMD/Sulphur hatches in summer.
Presentation
Fish on a conventional nymph rig with split shot or putty in riffles and runs where fish stack up during emergences. Can also be fished in the surface film at the end of a long leader, either solo or behind a more visible dry fly like a Parachute Adams.
When to Use
Select this pattern when fish are keying on emerging mayflies but refusing standard dries. The emerger profile catches fish that are feeding just below or in the surface film, targeting naturals trapped in their shucks.
Water Type
Designed for moving water, particularly the riffles, runs, and tailouts where mayflies emerge. The buoyant CDC wing allows the fly to fish effectively at multiple depths depending on rigging.
Rigging Suggestions
Fish on a 9-12 foot leader tapering to 5X-6X tippet. As a dropper behind a larger dry fly, use 12-18 inches of 5X-6X tippet. When nymphing, position as the point fly or in a two-fly euro rig.
Visibility & Floatation
The white fluoro fiber topping aids visibility when fishing the pattern in the surface film. The CDC wing provides enough buoyancy to keep the fly suspended in the surface film, mimicking a natural struggling to emerge.
