Bridle Path Emerger

Brian Nelson Friday, September 16, 2011 Bridle Path Dressing: Hook: 10-18 TMC 205 BL or similar; a slightly curved, down-eye hook works well. Head: Spun, clipped deer or antelope hair. Wings: tie calf body wings with the tips pointing forward, towards the hook eye; spun hair forms a base in front of the wings. Tail: antron or similar for trailing shuck, or mono dropper loop. Thread: Use your favorite thread color and body material; they should match the naturals. Body: Use your favorite thread color and body material; they should match the naturals. Hackle: Color should match naturals; wrap it as illustrated, through the trimmed path, behind the wings, and under the hook—in front of the clipped hair. Step 1: Mount and wrap the thread; then spin a clump of deer, elk, or antelope hair on the front of the hook as shown. Trim the hair to imitate the bulging thorax of an emerging insect. Step 2: Tie a pair of calf hair wings behind the spun hair. After separating these with figure 8 wraps, instead of standing the wings upright, let them slant forward over the spun deer. The wing angle is a key for the configuration of this pattern. Step 3: After trimming the wing butts, cover them with thread wraps. Tie in the tail. Since this is an emerger, I like an antron trailing shuck. In this instance, I tied in yellow mono which doubles as a dropper loop. Step 4: Attach and wrap the body material. Step 5: Tie off the body and complete it with a whip finish near the base of the wings. Cut the thread. Dab a little head cement over the knot at the wing base for stability. Step 6: Carefully trim & part the hackle path through the spun hair on both sides of the fly, from behind the eye under the hook, toward the back of the wings as shown. Step 7: Re-attach tying thread just behind the hook eye. Then secure the hackle under the hook & in front of the spun hair. Step 8: Wrap the hackle two or three times through the near path, behind the wings, through the opposite path, and in front of the spun hair. The angle in which the hackle is secured positions the fly in the surface film with a bearing or nautical attitude that imitates a natural emerger. Step 9: Wrapping the hackle through the path creates a durable, highly buoyant emerger pattern, as can be observed from the underside view. Step 10: Secure & trim the hackle, then build a thread head. Step 11: Whip finish and apply head cement.