Emergers represent a vulnerable phase, of an aquatic insects life when they are in the process of transition from a, subaquatic nymph, larva or pupa, into a winged adult stage of the life cycle.

They are not dry flies or wet flies, but can be fished as both. They shouldn’t fish high and dry like a traditional dry fly, nor should they fish deep like a nymph, but somewhere in-between. One of the most decisive factors for successfully fishing emergers, is that the trout finds them in the right place.

This place, is ‘unsafe territory’ for an emerging aquatic insect, the meniscus!  This is the upper expanse of the water, that maintains surface tension. Insects, especially small ones, often undergo difficulties trying to puncture the meniscus, and have to fight and struggle to break through the surface tension. Its here they are exposed and liable to become trout food. 

Whilst engaging in this endeavor, shuck, legs and other body parts merge into a more nondescript mass, rather than anything that resembles an insect.

Hook and Material Selection for Emerger Flies

Here, I have to comment on how important your choice of hook and materials are when designing flies. With most patterns it’s straightforward,  light weight hook and materials for a dry fly and a heavier hook, even added weight for a subsurface fly. 

These are hooks that normally have more bend than straight hook shank. These are designed to imitate hatching insects that are hanging in the surface water film. These curved hooks with a straight eye help the fly tyer imitate this stage, with the rear part of the body of the insect submerged  and the thorax and wing case above. One of the most popular is the Klinkhåmer and Klinkhåmer extreme. Developed by the well known Dutch fly tyer Hans Van Klinken for his Klinkhåmer series of emergers. You can also use curved caddis grub hooks such as the Mustad Heritage C49 XSAP.

When it comes to emergers, a curved caddis/grub hook with a deep open gape, is preferred, that will pull the rear of the emerger under the surface producing the correct posture and the use of a buoyant material that will support the upper half of the emerger in the surface. No matter your choice of buoyant material, ideally, you should also endeavor to create the illusion of struggling legs.  Fitting materials for imitating the chaos of legs breaking free from the shuck are hackle, deer hair and hares ear dubbing.

Top 10 Emerger fly Patterns

The following are ten of my favourite emergers demonstrating different techniques that can be tied in various sizes and colours to match your hatch. Some are made to represent specific insects, others are A.P.E’s (all purpose emergers) that work well generally under assorted hatches.

Klinkhåmer

Probably the most popular emerger that can be tied in just about any size from a #18 to a huge #6 and colour. You can use a traditional hackle or one of CDC or both mixed for a half and half or best of both hackle.

• Tying thread: Olive
• Hook: Standard emerger # 6-16
• Post/wing: White Para Post
• Body: Olive Super fine dubbing
• Hackle: Silver badger
• Thorax: Peacock herl

Clarkes all purpose emerger

Without doubt one of my absolute most productive trout & grayling patterns. Tied on a # 12,14 or 16 hook, as here, it makes a fantastic caddis pupa but on smaller sizes, even down to a # 22, it’s my first choice every time for hatching midge.

• Hook: Mustad C49S # 16
• Tying thread: Sheer Tan 14/0
• Trailing shuck: Pearl Crystal flash
• Legs & hump: Natural European Roe deer
• Body: SuperFine Dubbing: Blue winged olive

Midge emerger

A functional emerger midge pattern with a few nice techniques. Tie it in any size from large buzzers to the smallest hatching or cripple midges in any colour you like. A must have pattern.

• Hook: Partridge_Sprite S2100 Buzzer # 16 or smaller
• Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 Black
• Thorax: Stickle Dub Fiery brown
• Horizontal wing: Pearl Krystal flash
• Vertical wing: Three natural CDC hackles

La Fontaine’s emergent sparkle pupa

Gary LaFontaine’s little emerger that has become a modern classic. This simple technique shows you how to create the gas filled shuck case of an emerging caddis fly to great effect. A pattern that no caddis fly specialist should be without!

Foam post March brown emerger

A simple but extremely effective March Brown emerger that can be tied in sizes 10-16. The foam post and parachute hackle give perfect presentation and will float all day long.

• Hook: Mustad C49S # 12
• Thread: Sheer brown 14/0
• Trailing shuck: White para post
• Abdomen: Light brown Twinkle
• Thorax: Hares era Antron blend Post: 2.3 mm Yellow foam cylinder
• Hackle: Whiting Grizzle saddle dyed March Brown

Sugar cube emerger

Not representing anything in particular but everything fishy. This super quick and simple pattern is an absolute must for still waters. Fished alone with little twitches, or with a team as a top dropper, the sugar cube hares ear emerger is a deadly pattern! 

Loop wing emerger

This is a simple little CdC loop wing emerger that can be adapted to imitate not only midges but also smaller mayflies.

• Hook: Mustad C49S # 18
• Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 Olive
• Tail: Speckled partridge hackle fibres
• Body: Stripped peacock quill.
• Loop wing: 2 White or dun CDC hackles
• Thorax: Superfine dubbing

Goddard’s suspender midge emerger

Another pattern from John Goddard that was an instant success on still waters in the UK. The polystyrene ball tied just above the hook eye makes the suspender midge emerger float all day and beyond while presenting the pattern in the perfect hatching position.

• Hook: Mustad R50X # 14
• Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 Olive
• Tail: Poly yarn
• Rib: Small UTC pearl tinsel
• Body: Olive marabou
• Suspender ball: Polystyrene ball and nylon stocking
• Thorax: Brown Ostrich herl

Hatching Midge

A quick and easy little semi realistic hatching / cripple midge that fishes well. It also has a few nice techniques that can be employed in other patterns.

Soft hackle emerger

One of my favorite Autumn patterns to fish. A soft hackle emerger that incorporates some classic materials and a couple of useful techniques. If you pull it through still water or swing it down and across stream you won’t be disappointed.

• Hook: PARTRIDGE_Wide wet # 10
• Tying thread: Sheer 14/0 Brown
• Tail: Pheasant tail fibres
• Tag: Red floss
• Rib: Copper wire
• Body: Hares ear dubbing
• Thorax: Hares mask & CDC dubbing
• Hackle: Speckled hen