
TYING GARY BORGER’S WET/DRY FLY
The Wet/Dry Fly is based on the Wet/Dry Fly Emerger, and the only difference is that this version does not have any trailing shuck. Gary Borger’s Wet/Dry Fly imitates the adult insect after it has completely left the nymphal skin and sitting in or on the surface film. This is the stage five of emergence. The insect is now ready to fly away from the water.
Materials for Gary Borger’s Wet/Dry Fly
Part: | Materials: | Size/Color: |
Hook: | Akita | AK503BL #14 |
Thread: | Textreme | Olive 6/0 |
Body: | Rabbit Fur | Olive |
Rib: | Danville’s Floss | Yellow |
Hackle: | Partridge | Natural |
Video Instructions on How to Tie a Gary Borger’s Wet/Dry Fly
Video coming soon.Slideshow on How To Tie a Gary Borger’s Wet/Dry Fly
Step 1 – Make the Body
Tie in your tying thread and make an even thread base until you reach the point where your thread is aligned with the hook’s barb. The original fly does not have any tail, but you can tie some fibers in now if you would like. Tie in the floss for the rib. Make a dubbing noodle and build up a tapering body. Remember to leave some space for the hackle and the head. Spin the floss and rib the fly to create segmentation.
Step 2 – Make the Hackle
Tie in the soft hackle by the tip. If you remove some of the fluff from the hackle stem, it is easier to use a hackle plier. Make 1 to 2 turns with the hackle feather. Depending on hook size and the quality of the feather, this should be enough. Complete the dry fly with a whip finish or a few half-hitches and a drop of varnish to secure the head.
How to Fish the Gary Borger’s Wet/Dry Fly
The Wet/Dry Fly can be tied in any color or hook size and imitate stage five emergers of mayflies, caddis, and midges. In addition, the fly can also imitate cripples or stillborns. Present the fly dead drift upstream to rising fish. Gary Borger fishes this fly both dry and wet.

