Overview

The BMW, short for Brian's Marabou Wiggler, comes from Canadian stillwater authority Brian Chan and is tied by Montana Fly Company. It is a compact marabou leech that imitates the micro leeches trout hunt over shoals and along drop-offs.

Black is the classic leech color and the strongest silhouette you can show a trout, especially in low light or stained water. The tying notes for this pattern also point out that a black BMW is a good choice when trout are eating chironomid pupae, even though it looks large for the hatch, so it earns a spot in the box even when leeches aren't the main menu.

Euro Specs

• Hook: Standard nymph-style hook per the tying recipe (not a jig).
• Role: Stillwater indicator or retrieve fly; can serve as the point fly of a two-fly lake rig.

How to Fish It

• Under an indicator: suspend it just off the bottom or above the weed tops over shoals and drop-offs, and let the wind and chop give it life.
• Slow strip or hand-twist: on a floating or intermediate line, a slow, steady retrieve lets the marabou breathe and swim like a small leech.
• Slow drift: fish it from a drifting boat or float tube along a shoal edge, keeping in contact with the fly.
• Start the day with it: it is a strong opening fly in spring and early summer, and again over shallow shoals in late fall.
• During chironomid hatches: darker versions, fished slowly near the bottom, often take trout that are feeding on midge pupae even though the fly looks large for the hatch.

Choosing Color and Size

This listing is Black in size 12. It is the color to start with in low light, in stained water and during chironomid hatches, when a dark, simple profile gets attention.