Olive Thorax

This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is the Olive Thorax mayfly, tied here in size 18.

This fly pattern is one of several I found in Randall Kaufmann’s Tying Dry Flies book that I tied and fished in the 1990’s. The Olive Thorax mayfly imitates a Baetis or Blue Wing Olive. Dry Flies helped introduce me to aquatic entomology and I wanted to tie every fly listed in the book. I’d dream about fishing the rivers and lakes listed.

Tying Dry Flies briefly discussed Dr. Edgar Burke and Vincent Marinaro using thorax style flies in the 1930’s and 50’s respectively, using a single upright wing.

I tied this fly and fished it for several years, but seem to have forgotten it. The wing uses turkey flats, which was quite tricky for me to tie back then. Clipping the hackle on the bottom allows the fly to ride low in the water, something I like for my dry flies.

It just looks fishy!

Enjoy…go fish!