Bubbleback Emerger

Bubbleback Emerger PMD

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Tying Instructions

1. Place a bead onto the hook and attach the hook to the vise. Attach the thread about 2 bead widths behind the eye.

2. Lay a thread foundation to the bend of the hook, where the tail will be tied. On a curved hook, this can be a subjective decision. Keep in mind to not crowd your hook gap.

3. Reorient the hook in the vise so that you can more easily attach the ribbing materials at the tail tie-in position. The copper wire and Krystalflash should be secured to the bottom part of the hook shank.

4. Starting about two bead widths behind the eye, dub the thread with the Quick Descent dubbing. This material twists onto the thread very easily. You do not need very much and don’t worry about the length of the fibers, it’ll twist fine.

5. Dub an abdomen and remove the excess material. Let it stream behind the tail tie-in postion somewhat. Trim the excess as desired.

6. Attach 8-10 Pheasant Tail fibers to the tail tie-in position. The tail length should equal the shank length you established with your thread foundation. Attach the butt ends of the fibers to the top of the abdomen with 4-5 spirol thread wraps.

7. Next, wrap the ribbing material forward following the spiroled thread wraps. Trim off the excess Pheasant Tail and ribbing materials.

8. Reorient the hook once more, so that you can easily attach materials to the thorax area. Attach 8-10 Krystalflash fibers just in front of the abdomen. Do not crowd the bead, as the bead wil need to move back with material tied down in front of it.

9. Next, attach 8-10 Pheasant Tail Fibers by the butt ends to the thorax position. Secure this material up to the end of the abdomen.

10. Apply the ice dubbing to the thread and bring the first fibers up to the hook shank.

11. Wrap an initial turn of dubbing arouind the shank to lock in the fibers. You can twist the ice dubbing into a tighter rope once those fibers are locked in. Then, dub a tight thorax leaving enough room to bring the bead back with room to spare for attaching materials in front of the bead. Whip Finish and trim off the thread.

12. Push the bead back into the thorax material and reattach the thread in front of the bead.

13. Pull the Pheasant Tail material over the thorax and bead and secure with thread wraps in front of the bead. Try to keep the Pheasant Tail fibers evenly distributed over the throax. Trim off the excess.

14. Now, bring the Krystalflash over the same area and secure with two wraps of the thread in front of the bead. Place your scissors within the loop to assist in adjusting the loop size. Once you have your desired loop size, secure with thread wraps.

15. Divide the butt ends of the Krystalflash into two groups, one on each side of the hook shank. Secure this position with thread wraps and whip finish. Trim the butt ends so that they do not extend beyond the thorax region. These represent the legs of the pattern.

Materials to Order Material, click the link
Hook	TMC 2487 #14-20
Thread	Uni-thread Pale Yellow 8/0
Head	Gold Bead
Body	Quick Descent Dubbing, Copper
Thorax	Pale Yellow Ice Dubbing
Tail	Natural Pheasant Tail
Wingcase and Shellback	Natural Pheasant Tail and Yellow Krystalflash
Ribbing	Small Copper Wire and Yellow Krystalflash

Bubbleback Emerger

Loopwings on emergers have been around for some time. Swisher and Richards demonstrated this technique using Hen Back fibers, Craig Mathews used Antron fibers, and Oliver Edwards demonstrated loopwings using CDC feathers.

Adam Trina

Trapping Air Bubbles

The loopwing represents the emerging wings and, due to the open interior of the wing, the loop traps air that aids in its flotation. This bubble gives off some additional sparkle to the pattern. This fly was originated by Adam Trina, founder of Montana Fly Company and former Missoula, MT-based guide. Much of the pattern is based upon the Pheasant Tail Nymph.

Adam used Krystalflash to create a loopwing to represent the splitting wing case of an emerging insect. He termed this pattern as a “Bubbleback” and the pattern has become quite successful throughout the Western States, including the Sierra.

Excellent Dropper Fly

Trina’s Bubbleback Emerger is a highly effective nymph that makes an excellent dropper off a dry fly, or as a trailer behind a heavier nymph. In either case, it is better fished in the middle of the water column as opposed to hovering off the bottom. The little bit of flash on top of the bubble tie adds additional allure to this fly in the water.

Joel Silverman, a contract tier for Montana Fly Company and fishing guide out of Montana, substituted CDC for the Krystalflash and eliminated the Pheasant Tail wing case. The CDC provides movement and will also trap air bubbles within it’s loop.

Bubbleback BWO

Hook	TMC 2487 #16-22
Thread	Uni-thread Olive 8/0
Head	Gold Bead
Body	Lt. Olive Quick Descent Dubbing
Thorax	Ice Dubbing , Black Peacock
Tail	Natural Pheasant Tail
Wingcase and Shellback	Natural Pheasant Tail and Olive Krystalflash
Ribbing	Small Copper Wire and Olive Krystalflash

Bubbleback Emerger, Pheasant

Hook	TMC 2487 #12-18
Thread	Uni-thread Rusty Brown 8/0
Head	Gold Bead
Body	Pheasant tail
Thorax	Peacock Herl
Tail	Natural Pheasant Tail
Wingcase	Natural Pheasant Tail and Pearl Krystalflash
Ribbing	Small Copper Wire and Pearl Krystalflash

Silverman’s CDC Bubbleback Black

Hook	TMC 2487 #12-18
Thread	Uni-thread Black 8/0
Head	Gold Bead
Body	Black Pearl Flashabou
Thorax	Simi Seal, Blood Leech
Tail	Hen Neck Fibers, Black
Wingcase	CDC, Black

Silverman’s CDC Bubbleback Olive

Hook	TMC 2487 #12-18
Thread	Uni-thread Olive Dun 8/0
Head	Gold Bead
Body	Peacock Flashabou
Thorax	Peacock Green, Emergence Dubbing
Tail	Mallard Flank, Tan
Wingcase	CDC, Dun