Bodkin / Patterns

Croston's Bead Baetis

Nymph · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook barbless jig hook, 16-20
  • Thread olive or brown 10/0

Materials

  • Bead Slotted tungsten bead (2.0-2.5mm) (1)
  • Tag/hot spot Fluorescent orange thread or tying silk (few turns)
  • Tail Coq de leon fibres (6-8 fibres)
  • Body Olive-brown tying thread or fine Baetis dubbing (as needed)
  • Rib Fine copper or gold wire (1 strand)
  • Hackle Natural CDC (1 short feather)

How to tie it

  1. Seat the slotted tungsten bead behind the eye of the jig hook so the fly rides point-up.
  2. Start thread and run a slim base to the bend; tie in a short sparse tail of coq de leon fibres about half a shank long.
  3. Tie in the wire rib, then build a slim tapered baetis body of thread or fine dubbing forward to just behind the bead.
  4. Counter-rib with the wire in 4-5 even open turns for segmentation and durability, tie off and break the wire.
  5. Wind an orange hot-spot tag of thread or silk right behind the bead. The bright collar is the trigger point.
  6. Tie in a natural CDC feather and take one or two turns as a soft hackle to give a living, mobile silhouette, then whip finish behind the bead.

Tying videos

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