Poxyback Emerger

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Poxyback Emerger PMD
Poxy-back PMD
Tying Instructions

 

Materials:
  • Hook: TMC 200R #16-18
  • Thread: Uni Thread Rusty Brown 8/0
  • Abdomen: 33% Rust Antron Dubbing , 33% Ginger Antron Dubbing, and 33% Crawdad Orange
  • Thorax: 33% Rust Antron Dubbing , 33% Ginger Antron Dubbing, and 33% Crawdad Orange
  • Back Stripe: Thin Segment of Cinnamon Tip Turkey Tail
  • Shuck: Olive Brown Z-lon
  • Rib: Flat Pearlescent Mylar tinsel, narrow
  • Gills: Tan Marabou
  • Wingcase: Cinnamon Tip Turkey Tail, epoxied w/ UV Fly Finish, Thick
  • Hackle: Golden Olive Hackle
  • Wing: Ginger Z-lon

Poxyback Nymph PMD
Poxyback PMD
Tying Instructions

 

Materials:
  • Hook: TMC 200R #16-20
  • Thread: Uni Thread Rusty Brown 8/0
  • Weight: 0.015" Leadfree Wire
  • Abdomen: 33% Rust Antron Dubbing , 33% Ginger Antron Dubbing, and 33% Crawdad Orange Antron Dubbing
  • Thorax: 33% Rust Antron Dubbing , 33% Ginger Antron Dubbing, and 33% Crawdad Orange Antron Dubbing
  • Back Stripe: Thin Segment of Cinnamon Tip Turkey Tail
  • Tail:Three Ringneck Pheasant Tail Fibers
  • Rib: Pearl Krystalflash
  • Gills: Tan Marabou
  • Wingcase: Cinnamon Tip Turkey Tail, epoxied w/ UV Fly Finish, Thick
  • Head: 33% Rust Antron Dubbing , 33% Ginger Antron Dubbing, and 33% Crawdad Orange Antron Dubbing
  • Legs: Golden Brown Grouse Fibers

Notes:
Mike MercerDeveloped by Mike Mercer of Redding, CA around 1989. Mike designed both a nymphal form and an emerger form for Pale Morning Dun, Blue Wing Olive, Callibaetis, and Green Drakes. Aspects that highlight his pattern are the use of materials to represent gills behind the thorax and the hard shiny epoxy covering of the wingcase. The use of epoxy on the wingcase had been used by earlier tiers, such as Hal Janssen, but Mike utilized this material on a number of patterns and became known for it's use. Epoxy had been a time consuming step that took time to mix, apply, and harden. Mike also had to use two Turkey segments for wingcases since the epoxy would seep into the thorax dubbing if only one segment was used. This all changed with the use of UV Fly Finish that hardened in seconds with the use of a UV light and requires no mixing. The material is quite viscous and only one segment of turkey is required for the wingcase. Today, the use of UV epoxy is quite common and is an important step to protect the weak fibers of the wingcase. The gills are marabou tips that are placed on each side of the shank in front of the abdomen. The length of the gills is adjusted to not exceed the base of the shuck or tail. This works well with sizes 14-18. However, in sizes 20-22, one wrap of the marabou fibers around the shank will accomplish the same thing and is much easier.
Mike believed that fish are attracted to light/dark contrasts and the darker wingcase with the lighter thorax provides that contrast. His patterns also use dark/light segmentation in the abdomen using pearl flashabou or pearl krystalflash ribbing with a stripe of Turkey tail that is about 3-4 fibers wide. All of his patterns have this stripe except the Callibaetis. The thorax and abdomen dubbing is a blend of colors. Try to include at least three Antron colors to come up with the proper hue. This spectrum will give the fly a mottled effect, more of the natural coloration. Mike formulated a dubbing blend that was sold within a dispenser but this dispenser is no longer distributed nationally. However, you might find it available through The Fly Shop. Spirit River formulated a number of blends that are very similar and are currently sold as Antron Dubbing. The emergent forms generally show a darker wingcase, a trailing shuck, and an addition of a forward wing with hackle. The nymphal form will have a tail represented by 3 Pheasant Tail fiber tips or 3 Ostrich herls, legs represented by partridge or Grouse fibers, a small dubbed head and is usually weighted.

 

Variations:

Poxyback Emerger CallibaetisPoxy-back Callibaetis
Materials:
  • Hook:TMC 200R #16-18
  • Thread: Veevus 12/0 Light Olive
  • Abdomen: Callibaetis Antron Dubbing
  • Thorax: Callibaetis Antron Dubbing
  • Shuck: Cream Z-lon
  • Rib: Pearl Krystalflash
  • Gills: Gray Marabou
  • Wingcase: Mottled Oak Turkey tail, epoxied w/ UV Fly Finish, Thick
  • Hackle: Grizzly Hackle
  • Wing: Ginger Z-lon
Poxyback Nymph CallibaetisPoxy-back Callibaetis
Materials:
  • Hook:TMC 200R #14-18
  • Thread: Veevus 12/0 Light Olive
  • Weight: 0.015" Leadfree Wire
  • Abdomen: Callibaetis Antron Dubbing
  • Thorax: Callibaetis Antron Dubbing
  • Head: Callibaetis Antron Dubbing
  • Tail: 3 Dun Grey Ostrich Herls
  • Rib: Pearl Krystalflash
  • Gills: Gray Marabou
  • Legs: Dyed Mallard Flank, Woodduck
  • Wingcase: Mottled Oak Turkey tail, epoxied w/ UV Fly Finish, Thick
Poxyback Emerger Blue Wing OlivePoxy-back BWO
Materials:
  • Hook:TMC 200R #18-22
  • Thread: Veevus 12/0 Light Olive
  • Abdomen: 33% Dark Olive Antron, 33% Rust Antron, and 33% Golden Olive Antron Dubbing
  • Thorax: 33% Dark Olive Antron, 33% Rust Antron, and 33% Golden Olive Antron Dubbing
  • Back Stripe: Dyed Mallard Flank, Woodduck
  • Shuck: Olive Brown Z-lon
  • Rib: Pearl Krystalflash
  • Gills: Gray Marabou
  • Wingcase: Mottled Oak Turkey tail, epoxied w/ UV Fly Finish, Thick
  • Hackle: Medium Dun Hackle
  • Wing: Lt. Olive Z-lon
Poxyback Nymph Blue Wing OlivePoxy-back BWO
Materials:
  • Hook:TMC 200R #18-22
  • Thread: Veevus 12/0 Light Olive
  • Weight: 0.015" Leadfree Wire
  • Abdomen: 33% Dark Olive Antron, 33% Rust Antron, and 33% Golden Olive Antron Dubbing
  • Thorax: 33% Dark Olive Antron, 33% Rust Antron, and 33% Golden Olive Antron Dubbing
  • Back Stripe: Dyed Mallard Flank, Woodduck
  • Tail: 3 Dyed Olive Ringneck Tail fibers
  • Rib: Pearl Krystalflash
  • Gills: Gray Marabou
  • Legs: Dyed Mallard Flank, Woodduck
  • Wingcase: Mottled Oak Turkey tail, epoxied w/ UV Fly Finish, Thick
  • Head: 33% Dark Olive Antron, 33% Rust Antron, and 33% Golden Olive Antron Dubbing
Poxyback Nymph Green DrakePoxy-back Green Drake
Materials:
  • Hook: TMC 200R #10-12
  • Thread: Danville Olive 6/0
  • Abdomen: Dark Olive and March Brown Antron Dubbing
  • Thorax: Dark Olive and March Brown Antron Dubbing
  • Back Stripe: Dark Mottled Oak Turkey Tail
  • Tail: 3 Partridge fibers
  • Rib: Fine Copper Wire
  • Gills: Dark Olive Aftershaft feather
  • Legs: Dark Partridge
  • Wingcase: Dark Mottled Oak Turkey tail, epoxied
  • Head: Dark Olive and March Brown Antron Dubbing

 

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