Fed’s Balanced Possum Emerger is an innovative emerger using a balanced fly technique popularised by Phil Rowley, combines natural materials and a balance system to imitate emerging insects in a very natural way.

The balanced fly technique is designed to make your fly hang horizontally in the water column, mimicking the natural movement of aquatic insects. This horizontal presentation can be a game-changer, especially when fishing with stillwater techniques. You can learn more about this technique at philrowleyflyfishing.com, but the key principle lies in the use of a bead or weight system placed in a way that counteracts the buoyancy of the fly’s materials, allowing it to ride parallel to the water’s surface.

As Fed himself says, “I always add Variants to someone else’s fly when you change materials or tying steps.” In this case, he’s taken Rowley’s concept and adapted it with a twist using possum fur for natural texture and life-like movement.

This pattern focuses on blending traditional materials with modern synthetics to achieve lifelike texture and movement. For the body, you can either use natural possum fur or create an equally effective blend of materials, which includes:

• Peacock ice dubbing for a subtle, flashy undertone.
• Dark olive possum fur for a natural, earthy look.
• Natural grey possum fur for a realistic colour scheme that matches a variety of emerging insects.

The mix of these elements creates a fly with excellent natural buoyancy and a bit of shine, while the balanced design ensures the fly will hang just like the real thing in the water.

Fishing Tips for the Balanced Possum Emerger

One of the essential details when fishing this fly is how it is tied to your line. To ensure the balanced presentation works as designed, here are a couple of key tips:

• Knot choice: Use either a clinch knot or a uni-knot on the fly’s eye. This knot choice is crucial because it ensures the fly can move freely and hang horizontally in the water column.
• Positioning the tippet: When tying your knot, make sure to move the tippet just slightly behind the centre of the fly’s eye. This small adjustment helps to keep the fly balanced and positioned horizontally, which is essential for mimicking an emerging insect.

Why Use the Balanced Possum Emerger?

This pattern works especially well in lakes and stillwaters where trout are feeding on emerging insects just below the surface. The horizontal, balanced position of the fly gives it an advantage by allowing it to appear as though it’s emerging naturally from the water.

Moreover, the combination of possum fur and peacock dubbing creates a subtle, yet noticeable shimmer and colour variation, making it effective in a range of water conditions. Whether you’re targeting rainbow trout, brown trout, or even cutthroat, this fly’s lifelike movement and versatile colour scheme will make it a reliable choice in your fly box.

Fed’s Balanced Possum Emerger brings together the best of both worlds: the proven effectiveness of Phil Rowley’s balanced technique and the unique natural materials that mimic insects in their emergent phase. With its lifelike movement, durability, and eye-catching colour blend, this fly is sure to be a hit on the water this March.

Don’t forget to experiment with different variants and materials as Fed suggests, and be sure to keep your presentation balanced for the best results!

Materials

• Hook:Jig hook size 12
• Thread:Sheer 14/0 black
• Bead:Gold 3/32
• Sequin Pins:Gold size 8
• Tail:Natural possum
• Body:Natural possum or an equal mixture of Peacock ice dubbing, Dark olive possum fur, Natural grey possum fur

Tying Instructions

Part 1: Preparation (Complete these steps for all flies)

1. Place beads on the sequin pins: Thread the gold bead onto the sequin pin, ensuring the open side of the bead faces forward (towards the pinhead).
2. Cover the hook with thread: Secure the jig hook in your vise and wrap a smooth layer of thread from just behind the eye to the hook bend.

3. Tie in the sequin pin: Position the sequin pin with the bead on top of the hook shank. The pin should extend forward, with the pinhead overlapping the eye by two bead lengths. Secure the pin in place with firm thread wraps.
4. Reinforce with adhesive: Coat the thread wraps holding the pin in place with a thin layer of super glue or Sally Hansen’s Hard as Nails to lock everything down.

Part 2: Tying the Fly

5. Re-attach the thread: Start your thread again behind the bead and work back towards the hook bend. Tie in a tail of possum fur approximately 1.5 times the length of the fly.
6. Form a dubbing loop: Move the thread forward to about the 2/3 mark of the hook shank. Create a dubbing loop by forming a loop with your thread and securing it in place.

7. Secure the dubbing loop: Tie the base of the dubbing loop back to the base of the tail.
8. Prepare the dubbing: Mix your dubbing materials (Peacock ice dubbing, dark olive possum fur, natural grey possum fur) or use straight natural possum fur. Form a thin, even ribbon of dubbing material to place in the loop.

9. Spin the dubbing: Once you’ve loaded the loop with dubbing, spin it tightly to form a robust, buggy body. Use a dubbing brush to fluff out the fibres, ensuring they are fairly long and unruly.
10. Wrap the dubbing loop: Wrap the spun dubbing loop forward along the hook shank, progressing all the way up to the back of the bead. Tie off the loop securely behind the bead.

11. Whip finish: Perform a whip finish to secure the thread wraps behind the bead, locking everything in place.
12. Brush out the body: Using a dubbing brush or Velcro, brush the body fibres back towards the tail, creating a natural, buggy profile.