Bodkin / Patterns

Better Baetis

Dry Fly · Trout · Intermediate · 4 versions

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Big-eye standard dry-fly hook, 18 to 22
  • Thread Olive 8/0 (70 denier)

Materials

  • Tail Light dun Coq de Leon or split microfibbets (6-8 fibers, split)
  • Abdomen Olive-brown thin dubbing or thread (thin)
  • Wing Light dun poly or synthetic (1 upright clump)
  • Thorax Olive Super Fine dubbing (small pinch)
  • Hackle Light tan dun rooster (1)

How to tie it

  1. Start thread behind the big eye and lay a smooth base to the bend.
  2. Split-mount a sparse light-dun tail one shank length long, flared into a shallow V for a stable float.
  3. Build a slim tapered abdomen forward with olive thread or the thinnest touch of dubbing, stopping at the 65% mark.
  4. Stand up a single upright wing of light-dun synthetic and post the base with a few thread turns.
  5. Dub a small olive thorax around the wing base, keeping it lean.
  6. Wind the light tan dun hackle three to four turns through the thorax, sweep a few fibers clear of the eye, whip finish.

Other versions

3 more in the app: Fly Fish Food Tie, variant 1, Fly Fish Food Tie, variant 2, Fly Fish Food Tie, variant 3.

Tying videos

← All fly patterns