Olive Pit

Impressionistic of several items on a trout's menu, the Olive Pit is one of those flies that teases fish in the fast pocket water to "come eat me."  In smaller sizes think BWO's.

This pattern is tied with a glass bead in the thorax.  Keeping casts short and off the rocks will ensure longevity of the glass bead  and consistent results.

In my opinion, the three best colors are light olive, olive green and natural pheasant tail, but don't be afraid to try other colors for your home waters.  There's always a couple dozen in various sizes and colors hanging out in my fly box!  Give them a go and let me know how they produce for you.

Materials

Thread:  70 denier UTC Light Olive (pictured) or Olive Green

Hook:  Daiichi 1120 (sizes 12-20)

Bead:  Choice for main bead.  Glass bead is 11/0 clear with silver inner lining

Body:  Thread

Thorax:  Olive Ice Dubbing

Tail:  Iridescent green fibers from peacock breast feather

Ribbing:  Copper wire 

Step 1:

Use vise to pinch barb.  Add weighted bead and then glass bead.

Step 2:

Start flat wraps of thread behind glass bead leaving just a little room in distance.  (You'll why see in the following steps.)  Wrap to rear and stop at approximately the barb.

Step 3:

Remove 5 or 6 fibers from a iridescent green peacock breast feather.  Tie in and resume wrapping towards the bend of the hook.  Note stopping point at the rear.  Return thread forward.  Stopping point is approximately pictured.

Step 4:

Tie in ribbing on opposite side of hook and secure with even wraps rearward towards the bend.

Make additional wraps to produce a tapered body.  At this point ensure glass bead cannot slide down the body.  Additionally wraps of threads may be necessary to produce a little more taper. Note the "shallow" area behind the glass bead. This area will be used to secure the rib.  The glass bead will be moved into this area in an upcoming step.

Step 5:

Wrap ribbing forward taking 6 to 8 segmented wraps.  Secure ribbing on top of the hook shank. Remove excess.

Step 6:

Once ribbing is secured, apply head cement to thread and make a 4 or 5 turn whip finish.  Can the glass bead easily be moved to the rear?  If not, repeat this step- head cement and whip finish.  Ideally, a little pressure will be needed to place the bead in position with approximately 1/16th inch gap.

Step 7:

Start a small foundation of thread wraps between the beads.

Step 8:

Apply a small amount of olive Ice Dubbing to thread and make a few wraps to fill in gap.

Whip finish.  Remove any loose Ice Dubbing...  You are ready to get this fly wet!

Enjoy!