This was an early version of The Orb. I still wanted the glowing gas bubble of the emerging adult I had observed on Oregon’s East Lake. I experimented with pheasant tail fibers for the tail and the backstrap ala the Skip Nymph seeking the dark over light abdomen. Later, I would replace the pheasant tail fibers with Ostrich feather fibers for more animation.
Now, I know I might appear to be beating this pattern’s drum too much, but I believe in it’s successes and the concept based upon several observation periods of the pre hatch phase of the Callibaetis Mayfly. I believe there are several fine nymph patterns and emerger patterns for the Callibaetis. The Timberline Emerger comes to mind. I would only suggest that when the duns are coming off, fish the surface with this fine pattern or your version with the shimmering glass bead.
Here PlanetTrout incorporates two positives of the glowing bead and the vertical in the film posture with The Bubble Boy:
All this gets close to the Callibaetis Nymphs I saw several inches below the surface glowing bright in the thorax and positioned diagonally. They emerged so quickly that it was hard to tell if they lingered in the film for a micro second. Either way, there is something here to explore for the stillwater fisher or anyone experimenting with mayfly emergers.
SwittersB & Exploring 
I really like the idea of using Ostrich on the Orb Callibaetis Emerger instead of pheasant tail. I am a guide in Jackson, WY/greater Yellowstone Park area and that pattern crushes it out here on the lakes and is truly saving my season. We had such a huge winter combined with a wet/cold spring that the Southfork of the Snake River in Idaho is still un-fishable and might not be worth it until August (hopefully I’m dead wrong!). Basically, river fishing is out of the question right now for clients so I have been forced to fish small lakes and ponds with the clients who haven’t cancelled.
The bottom line is that the Orb CB emerger caught about 20 fish tonight and my client said it was the best evening of fishing he has ever had (that’s including the 20+ fish he missed;). The one’s that worked the best I tied without the glass bead head using spun/cut deer hair instead (that was only because I didn’t have any beads). I rigged my client with a Callibaetis Dry in front and an Orb’s w/Ostrich 24-30″ behind and had him SLOWLY strip the line so there wasn’t any disturbance of the meniscus (thin surface film of water). It was the most deadly lake set-up I have ever seen for a Callibaetis hatch!!!! The fish would hit the adult dry 1 of 4 times but numerous times the fish would turn on the dry without a take and proceed to smash the trailing emerger.
Thanks for the tip and I can promise you that I will use it the future…tomorrow to be exact!
Cheers,
Joe
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Good Morning Joe,
Well, I am very happy to read your positive input re The Orb. Love that little gem. Have a great season and I do hope you make it on the rivers and recoup any lost income! Thanks again..
Gary/SB
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