Mastering the Surface: Secrets to Deadly Emerger Patterns
with : on_the_vice
Every now and then, you come across a fly tyer whose patterns just stop you in your tracks—clean, smart, and dialed-in for real results. That’s exactly what you get with Graeme. We caught up with him after another big season on the competition circuit, where he’s not only been stacking up national caps for Scotland but also fine-tuning foam head emergers that have become lethal on pressured waters. Over a cup of something warm (or maybe a dram), we talked about his journey, what makes a suspender midge tick, and where his tying is heading as he sets his sights on the wild brown trout of the lochs. Let’s dive in.
Graeme, your tying skills have really made a name for you in the fly fishing world — how did your journey into fly fishing and fly tying begin?
I first took up fly fishing in my late teenage years with fly tying not so long after, 25 + years now. To say I was hooked from the off is an understatement, I was addicted ! Spending as much time as possible on the water and vice. Fast forward a number of years I got involved with competition fly fishing and quickly gained my first national caps, which led to being invited to join the flybox Pro team, Textreme Pro team followed not so long after. Moving on from the Pro team roles I stepped back from textreme and became the flybox ambassador, More sales focused with the tying aspects. On the competition front I've been lucky enough to represent Scotland in both loch style and Stillwater fly fishing, and recently captained Scotland gold winning team at the home nations.
Foam head emergers have become a bit of a signature for you — what drew you to that style of fly, and what makes them so effective on the water?
As much as I enjoy tying all styles of flies, the majority of my time at the vise is dedicated to crafting competition-grade patterns—particularly emergers. As a competitive angler, I've spent years rigorously testing and refining these patterns on the water, making small but meaningful adjustments in materials, proportions, and presentation to maximize effectiveness. In competition settings, where conditions can change by the hour, details like size and subtle movement often make the difference between a blank and a top finish. In fact, more often than not, success comes from flies that exhibit no movement at all—just a perfectly suspended, lifelike silhouette in the film.
When it comes to tying foam head emergers, what key materials, techniques, or small details do you focus on to make them both durable and deadly?
When you’re competing, there’s no room for error—everything needs to be dialed in. When fish are keyed in on midges trapped in the surface film, few patterns perform better than the Suspender Midge. It perfectly imitates that vulnerable stage of emergence, making it a go-to in high-pressure scenarios. Personally, I love both tying and fishing emergers—they offer a delicate challenge to tie and an unmatched effectiveness on the water. And clearly, the fish agree.
What’s next for you, Graeme — any new patterns, tutorials, or tying challenges you’re excited to share with the community?
Looking ahead, I plan to gradually step back from the competitive scene and spend more time pursuing wild brown trout across the beautiful Scottish lochs. As my focus shifts, so too will my tying—moving toward more traditional Scottish and Irish wets, but with a modern twist. That’s one of the great joys of fly tying: taking time-honored patterns and adapting them to suit your own style, waters, and understanding of fish behavior. It’s a creative process that keeps the tradition alive while pushing it forward.
Tight lines, and all the best.
—Graeme
You tube link to foam emerger fly,
