Fly Tying Inventory
Faded Baetis
Faded Baetis is Cade Moore's simple Baetis imitation, built for picky tailwaters where he wanted a little flash to draw a take without enough shine to spook fish. Flattened thread goes over a tinsel body, so the tinsel shines faintly through and the color fades along the fly. Moore fishes it in smaller sizes under a dry in a dry dropper rig, and it also suits other techniques. He has tried other colors with the same method. Tied here on a size 20 hook.
Ready to tie this?
This pattern needs 7 materials. Sign up free to check which ones you already own.
Materials
Umpqua XC210BL-BN Perdi-Jig Hook, size 20 (or Fulling Mill FM5125 Jig Force Short Barbless)
20
UTC Ultrathread 70 Denier, olive (or Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread, light olive)
Olive · 70 denier
FFF Anchor Beads Offset, silver, 2.8mm (or Tactical Tungsten Drop Bead, silver, 2.5mm, or Umpqua Jig Bombs Inverting Tungsten Beads, silver, 3.0mm)
Silver · 2.8mm
Semperfli Perdigon Body, iridescent pink (or Perdigones Pearl Body, olive brown PBF-32)
Iridescent Pink
Uni POSCA paint marker, black
Black
UV resin, for thin coats over the body and wing case
How to Tie the Faded Baetis
- 1
Step 1
Slide the silver bead onto the jig hook and mount the hook in the vise.
- 2
Step 2
Start the olive thread behind the bead, trim the tag, and wrap a thin base back to the bend.
- 3
Step 3
Tie in a sparse bunch of Pardo Coq De Leon fibers at the bend for the tail, with the butts pointing forward. Bind them down and trim the butts.
- 4
Step 4
Bring the thread forward to the bead, keeping the shank smooth and slim.
- 5
Step 5
Tie in the Perdigon Body behind the bead and bind it back along the shank to the tail, then return the thread to the bead.
- 6
Step 6
Wrap the Perdigon Body forward in touching turns to the bead. Tie it off and trim the excess.
- 7
Step 7
Spin the bobbin until the thread lies flat.
Flat thread is what lets the tinsel shine through.
- 8
Step 8
Wrap the flat thread down over the tinsel and back to the bead, keeping most of the wraps toward the bead. This builds a slim taper, with the color darkest at the front and fading into the tinsel toward the tail.
- 9
Step 9
Whip finish behind the bead and cut the thread.
- 10
Step 10
Coat the body with a thin layer of UV resin and cure it.
- 11
Step 11
Color the thorax area just behind the bead with the black paint marker to form the wing case.
- 12
Step 12
Add one more thin coat of UV resin over the body and wing case, turning the fly as you go, and cure it.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eikw0y-OdYc
Credit: Cade Moore / Fly Fish Food