Bodkin / Patterns

Galloup's Callibaetis Nymph

Nymph · Trout · Advanced · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook 1X-2X-long nymph hook, #14-16
  • Thread grey or tan 8/0 (70 denier)

Materials

  • Bead Small gold or black bead (1 (optional))
  • Tail Mottled fibers (partridge, wood duck, or pheasant tail) (small bunch, half shank)
  • Rib Fine copper wire or gold wire (4-5 turns)
  • Abdomen Grey/callibaetis dubbing or pheasant tail (dubbed slim, tapered)
  • Wing case Pheasant tail or thin skin (1 slip)
  • Thorax Grey/callibaetis dubbing (dubbed fuller, picked out)
  • Legs Partridge fibers (sparse beard (optional))

How to tie it

  1. Add a small bead at the eye if you want it to ride a touch deeper, then tie in a short tail of mottled partridge or wood-duck fibers about half a shank long.
  2. Tie in the wire rib, then dub a slim, tapered grey abdomen over the back two-thirds, callibaetis nymphs are slender, so keep it thin.
  3. Counter-wrap the wire rib forward in 4-5 turns to segment the body.
  4. Tie in a pheasant-tail wing case pointing back, then dub a slightly fuller grey thorax.
  5. Add a sparse partridge beard for legs if desired, then pull the wing case forward over the thorax and tie it down.
  6. Whip finish and pick out the thorax so the fly looks buggy and lifelike.
  7. Keep the whole profile slim and tapered, callibaetis nymphs are agile swimmers, not fat crawlers.

Tying videos

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