Rowan Nyman ties flies for Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone and has done great work over the past few years simplifying complex patterns. A lot of his tweaks have involved using easy-to-work-with synthetics when tricky-to-handle natural hair was used in the past. This fly takes a cue from his dead-simple wing style and adapts it to an emerger.

The hanging body and shuck make this fly deadly on even the most heavily pressured streams.

The original pattern uses epeorus died zelon and a light cahill thread, but I prefer to use a rusty brown thread and light dun zelon.

Start by wrapping your thread on the hook shank and then tie in a length of zelon.

Secure the zelon with touching wraps down around the bend and back up to the thorax.

Trim zelon to length (a little less than the length of the hook).

Tie in your peacock, build up a thorax, tie peacock down and trim.

Tie in polyarn with a hooks length of yarn above the tie-in point. Trim excess leaving a short butt of yarn.

Tie in hackle and wrap three turns behind wing (on top of butt) and four or five turns in front.

Whip finish.

Clip notch in bottom of hackle to insure that fly floats upright.

Watch a video of Craig Mathews tying the Madison Guide Cripple.