BWO Parachute
The essential hatch-matcher for every Blue-Winged Olive event.
The BWO Parachute is a specific-color Adams variant tied to match the ubiquitous Blue-Winged Olive mayfly hatch. With its olive body and dun hackle riding low in the film, it perfectly imitates Baetis duns drifting helplessly on the surface. It is the fly you reach for when olive-bodied mayflies blanket the water from fall through spring.
History & Lore
Blue-Winged Olive parachute patterns evolved from the general parachute dry fly tradition as anglers realized that matching the specific olive coloration of Baetis mayflies dramatically improved catch rates during these prolific hatches. The BWO Parachute became a tailwater essential through the 1990s and 2000s.
Variations
Comparadun BWO
Deer hair fan wing for a lower-profile flush float.
CDC BWO
CDC wing and body for ultimate in-the-film presentation.
Sparkle Dun BWO
Z-lon trailing shuck to imitate emerging dun.
How to Fish It
Present the BWO Parachute with a dead drift in the feeding lanes during a Baetis hatch. These hatches often occur on overcast, drizzly days — the worse the weather, the better the fishing. Size down when fish refuse: #20-22 matches late-season Baetis.
When to Use
During Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) hatches, primarily fall and spring. Also effective on cloudy summer days when small BWOs emerge in the afternoon.
Materials
- Hook
- TMC 100, #16-22
- Thread
- Uni 8/0, olive
- Tail
- Dun hackle fibers
- Body
- Olive superfine dubbing
- Post
- White calf body hair or poly yarn
- Hackle
- Dun dry fly hackle, parachute style
Tying Video
Tying Steps
Secure hook and wrap thread to the bend. Tie in a few dun hackle fibers for the tail.
💡 Tail fibers should be sparse and match dun coloration.
Dub a slim body of olive superfine dubbing from bend to 70% of shank.
💡 BWOs are slender insects — keep the body thin.
Tie in a white or gray post of calf body hair or poly yarn. Build a post base.
💡 Hi-vis white post is essential for seeing this small fly on the water.
Tie in a dun-colored dry fly hackle at the base of the post.
💡 Hackle should be proportioned for one size smaller than the hook.
Wrap the hackle parachute-style around the post base, 3-4 turns.
💡 Keep wraps tight to the base of the post.
Secure hackle, build a small head, whip finish and cement.
💡 The finished fly should sit low in the film like a real Baetis dun.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size BWO Parachute should I use?
The BWO Parachute is most commonly tied in sizes 16–22. During Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) hatches, primarily fall and spring. Also effective on cloudy summer days when small BWOs emerge in the afternoon.
What does a BWO Parachute imitate?
The BWO Parachute primarily imitates Baetis duns, Blue-Winged Olives, small mayflies. Present the BWO Parachute with a dead drift in the feeding lanes during a Baetis hatch. These hatches often occur on overcast, drizzly days — the wors
What materials do I need to tie a BWO Parachute?
Key materials include: Hook, Thread, Tail, Body, Post, Hackle. Same structure as a Parachute Adams but with olive dubbing, dun hackle, and olive-dun tail fibers ma
How do you fish a BWO Parachute?
Present the BWO Parachute with a dead drift in the feeding lanes during a Baetis hatch. These hatches often occur on overcast, drizzly days — the worse the weather, the better the fishing. Size down when fish refuse: #20-22 matches late-season Baetis.
Pattern Details
- Category
- Dry Flies
- Sizes
- 16–22
- Colors
- Olive, Gray-olive, Dark olive
- Hook Styles
- Standard dry fly, 1x fine wire
- Imitates
- Baetis duns, Blue-Winged Olives, small mayflies
- Water Types
- tailwater, spring creek, freestone
- Origin
- Various tyers, evolved from parachute tradition
Target Species
Pattern Details
- Category
- Dry Flies
- Sizes
- 16–22
- Colors
- Olive, Gray-olive, Dark olive
- Hook Styles
- Standard dry fly, 1x fine wire
- Imitates
- Baetis duns, Blue-Winged Olives, small mayflies
- Water Types
- tailwater, spring creek, freestone
- Origin
- Various tyers, evolved from parachute tradition