Bodkin / Patterns

Mighty Baetis

Nymph · Trout · Advanced · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Curved nymph/scud hook (TMC 2487), 16-20
  • Thread Olive UTC 70

Materials

  • Bead Black brass bead
  • Pheasant tail fibers (4-6 (tail))
  • Life flex / span flex (super floss) Light olive stretch floss (abdomen)
  • Krystal flash Pearl flashabou (rib)
  • Ice dub Peacock ice dub (thorax)
  • Turkey (or mottled) feather (wing case)
  • India hen Natural partridge (legs)
  • UV fly finish (Loon)

How to tie it

  1. Add a black brass bead to the hook and wrap olive thread most of the way around the bend.
  2. Even the tips of 4-6 pheasant-tail fibers and tie in a very short tail (about half a shank length), tying it in about a third of the way down the bend; take the thread forward.
  3. Tie in a strand of light olive life flex (span flex) along the side of the hook and bind it down the shank.
  4. Tie in a piece of pearl krystal flash at the rear and take even thread wraps forward; reposition the hook level.
  5. Spiral the krystal flash forward four to five turns to just past the halfway point and tie it off.
  6. Wrap the life flex forward over the thread-and-flash body (it is translucent so the flash shows through) and tie it off, then trim.
  7. Build a thorax ball of peacock ice dub, a bit larger than the bead.
  8. Cut a V-notch in a turkey feather slip (tips glued to hold), tie it in as a wing case slightly longer than the thorax, pointing back, and trim the butts.
  9. Tie in natural India hen fibers as legs, a hair longer than the wing case, a few per side, with only two or three secure wraps.
  10. Cover the tie-off with a few strands of peacock ice dub and whip finish behind the bead; clean up any stragglers.
  11. Coat the wing case with UV fly finish (over the bead slightly) and cure with a UV light.

Tying videos

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