Overview

The Clear Choice May is a Krueger's pattern from Montana Fly Company, and this version is tied for Baetis, the small mayflies anglers call Blue Wing Olives. Baetis hatch on tailwaters and freestone rivers in spring and fall, often on cool, cloudy days, and trout feed on them hard as the nymphs swim up and emerge.

Small olives are some of the most important insects a trout angler will meet, and fish can get very selective while eating them. During a Baetis hatch the right size and a slim, natural profile matter more than anything else, which is why this pack comes in two of the most useful sizes.

How to Fish It

• Before the hatch: fish it as the trailing fly 12 to 18 inches behind a larger nymph or dry while nymphs are active below the surface.
• During the hatch: when fish are rising but refusing dries, trail it behind a visible dry so it drifts just under the surface where emerging nymphs are easy prey.
• Fine tippet: use 6X or 7X fluorocarbon so a small fly drifts naturally.
• Timing: look for Baetis on overcast spring and fall afternoons, and through the winter on many tailwaters.

Choosing Color and Size

#18 matches most Blue Wing Olive hatches and is the size to start with. Go to #22 when the naturals run small, often late in the fall and on tailwaters, or when fish refuse the larger fly.