The problem is, "BWO" is applied to so many different insects that it's almost meaningless. It wouldn't matter so much except that the different insects behave differently, and are often best imitated differently. It's one case where using the Latin makes sense.zen leecher wrote: ↑Thu Feb 21, 2019 11:53 am Hence the BWO and the baetis should both be termed BWO's, just different sizes.
Serratella ignita -- the Old World insect which was the original BWO -- and Drunella cornuta -- a common insect in the Catskills commonly known as BWO -- are both in the same family as Hendricksons and sulfurs. Both are actually olive (at least the adult females -- male ignitas are red) with bluish gray wings. The nymphs are of the clinger type, live in faster water, are rather bulky, and are generally going to be found on bottom except during a hatch. They're best fished dead drifted. (There's also a Drunella lata likewise called a BWO, similar to a cornuta, but much smaller.) I personally imitate the adults with a pattern actually called a BWO, and nymphs with a darkish, heavily dubbed flymph.
OTOH, most members of the Baetidae family in the are also called BWO's, whether or not they have have on olive body or have bluish wings. The nymphs are very slender, are active swimmers, and often prefer slower water. When they're in motion (most of the time) they've got their legs tucked against their body, making Sawyer style Pheasant Tail, given some motion, a good imitation. If I'm imitating the adult, a parachute Adams works as well as anything, but I usually prefer a PT soft hackle for all stages of the life cycle.
Other than that, they're exactly the same.
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