Fly Tying Inventory
Callibaetis Soft Hackle
Callibaetis Soft Hackle comes from Cheech for lakes and reservoirs with good Callibaetis hatches. He describes it as a cross between an AP Emerger and a Hare's Ear Soft Hackle, with two details of its own: a light veil of UV Brown Ice Dub for a touch of flash, and a bead position that makes the partridge hackle flare more than usual. He fished it on high elevation lakes during a heavy hatch, at times with two on the line. Tied here on a size 14 hook.
Ready to tie this?
This pattern needs 8 materials. Sign up free to check which ones you already own.
Materials
Fulling Mill FM5085 Nymph Barbless hook, size 14 (or TMC 9300)
14
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge, camel (or Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread 8/0, brown)
Camel · 8/0
Plummeting Tungsten Beads - Classic Colors, copper, 7/64 inch (2.8mm) (or gold)
Copper · 7/64 inch (2.8mm)
#1 Hungarian Partridge Skin, natural (or Nature's Spirit Premium Hungarian Partridge Skin)
Natural
UTC Ultra Wire, copper, small
Copper · Small
Nature's Spirit Snowshoe Rabbit Foot Dubbing, hare's ear (or Hareline Dubbin, hare's ear)
Hare's ear
Ice Dub, UV brown (or Hends Spectra Dubbing, dark brown)
UV brown
#1 Hungarian Partridge Skin, natural, from the same skin as the tail
Natural
How to Tie the Callibaetis Soft Hackle
- 1
Step 1
Slide the copper bead onto the hook and mount the hook in the vise.
- 2
Step 2
Start the thread behind the bead, trim the tag, and wrap a base back to the bend.
- 3
Step 3
Pull a small bunch of fibers from a partridge feather and tie them in at the bend for the tail. Bind the butts along the shank and trim any excess.
- 4
Step 4
Tie in the copper wire at the base of the tail and leave it hanging behind the hook.
- 5
Step 5
Dub the hare's ear forward for the body, stopping short of the bead to leave room for the thorax.
- 6
Step 6
Wrap the wire forward over the dubbing in open turns. Tie it off and remove the tag end.
- 7
Step 7
Dub a thin pinch of UV Brown Ice Dub over the front of the fly, up to the bead.
- 8
Step 8
Brush the Ice Dub out lightly so it forms a thin veil over the thorax.
- 9
Step 9
Whip finish behind the bead and trim the thread. Slide the bead back against the thorax and restart the thread in front of it, just behind the eye.
- 10
Step 10
Pick a partridge feather with fibers suited to the size of the fly and tie it in by the tip in front of the bead.
- 11
Step 11
Wrap the feather with hackle pliers behind the eye. Tie it off and trim the stem.
Setting the hackle ahead of the bead makes the partridge flare out more than a normal soft hackle collar.
- 12
Step 12
Build a small head, whip finish behind the eye, and trim the thread.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHQIBmQtL0A
Credit: Cheech / Fly Fish Food