Waterhen Bloa

The Waterhen Bloa is a classic North Country soft-hackle wet fly from northern England, designed to imitate small emerging insects such as olives, midges, and other aquatic flies.

Key characteristics:

• Hook: Standard wet fly hook (typically sizes 14–18).
• Thread: Yellow silk, often waxed to create a soft olive tone.
• Body: Yellow silk, sometimes lightly ribbed with fine yellow or gold wire.
• Hackle: A sparse, soft blue-grey feather from a waterhen (moorhen), giving the fly a lifelike movement in the water.

The Waterhen Bloa is prized for its simplicity and effectiveness. The soft hackle pulses naturally in the current, making it an excellent choice for fishing upstream or across-and-down on rivers, especially during olive hatches. It remains one of the most respected traditional wet fly patterns for trout.