Fly Tying Inventory
Bead Head Baetis Nymph
A detailed nymph imitation of Baetis (Blue-Winged Olive) mayflies, featuring stripped peacock herl for a segmented abdomen, olive dubbing thorax, and Coq de Leon tail fibers. The gold bead adds weight for getting down in the water column during prolific Baetis hatches.
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Materials
Standard nymph hook, size 16-20 (e.g., TMC 3761 or Dai-Riki 060)
Gold or olive tungsten bead, 5/64" or 1/16" to match hook size
Olive or dark brown 8/0
Olive or brown hackle fibers, 4-6 strands
Fine gold wire
Olive-brown dubbing, sparse and slim
Pheasant tail fibers or dark turkey tail
Slightly darker olive dubbing, picked out for legs
How to Tie the Bead Head Baetis Nymph
- 1
Step 1
Slide the bead onto the hook and secure in the vise. Start thread behind the bead and wrap to the bend.
- 2
Step 2
Tie in 4-6 olive or brown hackle fibers for the tail, keeping it short (about half the hook gap).
Baetis nymphs have very short tails—keep them proportional.
- 3
Step 3
Tie in fine gold wire for ribbing along the near side of the shank.
- 4
Step 4
Apply sparse olive-brown dubbing and wrap a slim, tapered body to the thorax area.
- 5
Step 5
Wrap the gold wire rib forward in 4-5 open turns, secure and trim.
- 6
Step 6
Tie in a slip of pheasant tail fibers over the thorax for the wingcase.
- 7
Step 7
Dub a slightly fuller thorax with darker olive dubbing. Pull the wingcase over and secure.
- 8
Step 8
Whip finish behind the bead and trim. Pick out thorax dubbing fibers to suggest legs.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BptQadTE8PU
Credit: Tim Flagler / FFI Fly Tying Group Video Library