Author Topic: Baetis Nymphs (Read 2249 times)

Domenick Swentosky · « **on:** March 23, 2010, 11:31:44 AM »

Well the Olives are everywhere on my home stream. I love taking them on dries when there are a bunch of risers, but that only lasts so long, and I can usually do pretty well with Baetis nymphs all day if the conditions are right. Surprisingly enough to me, a couple days ago, with the water still very much up and very off color, most of the trout were still showing a preference for size 16s and 18s.

Anyway, I've always kept it pretty simple and used a BHPT for a lot of things, including Baetis. Sometimes I use olive died pheasant tail, but once it's wet it seems too dark --- pretty much black.

I'm in an experimental phase with flies right now and I tying a few new Baetis nymph patterns. What do you guys like?

Enjoy the day.
Domenick

Loren Williams · « **Reply #1 on:** March 23, 2010, 11:45:15 AM »

Dom,

During baetis activity I really enjoy fishing 2 unweighted nymphs in the film on a long cast. Riffles rule during eastern US baetis activity and being able to make a long drift can be important. This where I really like to float my curly (or backing sighter in your case) on an upstream cast and keep in contact using long slow pulls during the retrieve with my rod tip right on the water. I will cast fly line under these conditions...the surface tension of the line on the water goes a long way toward maintaining contact...I just keep my tip on the water to avoid any type of line bow that the wind can catch. The cast I use can be considered an "on purpose" bad cast....BIG open loop with the fly line at my rod tip hitting the water first allowing the rest of the cast to unroll, landing in a straight line and under tension as soon as the flies hit.

Of course I enjoy dries-who doesn't; but I find that fishing nymphs keeps my flies in the water longer (no false casting and I am not as focused on individual fish) and I feel that fish are still eating nymphs more than dries, both tend to equal productive outings.

As per patterns: I use just earthy, or dark earthy colored dubbing and a CdL or wood duck tail....no wing case or legs. Small soft hackle are equally productive...just more fuss to tie.

Torrey Collins · « **Reply #2 on:** March 23, 2010, 04:00:42 PM »

Dom-
Baetis nymphs come in a variety of colors from pale olive all the way to almost black (esp. out West). If you think the dyed olive PT comes out too dark (I agree), try using some of the new dyed colors- Wapsi does one they call light olive, it's a really nice lighter olive-green. Try also using dubbing for the body, or maybe a quill (turkey or a stripped hackle) dyed to your preferred shade. Confidence in your fly pattern is probably more important than getting the exact shade though.

Domenick Swentosky · « **Reply #3 on:** March 25, 2010, 01:24:42 PM »

Thanks for the replies gentlemen.

I fished for a few hours last night and experimented with three different flies on the dropper all night. All short #16's. A BHPT, an Iron Lotus (thanks Lance), and a simple olive fur nymph (olive hare's ear, copper rib, black bead). I caught many more fish on the simple fur nymph --- go figure. Just one night of testing means nothing, but it's fun to drift similar patterns to them and see what they take.

Loren, excellent explanation of your tactic for fishing unweighted nymphs. I'll be trying it soon.

Enjoy the day.
Domenick

Corey Sullivan · « **Reply #4 on:** March 25, 2010, 09:30:15 PM »

Softhackles are a staple for me during the olive hatches here but fish will usually reject a #18 a smaller #20 or a #22 are better bets. I get humpbacking rises on the dead drift but most takes are agressive stikes when the fly begins to swing. No harm fishing 2 or 3 of these at a time greasing the first fly to stay in the film.

Nothing flashy just some dun hackle for a tail, dubbing to suite what you like and some mallard for hackle. Good breathing action like a struggling emerger or drowned dun.

Nick Naclerio · « **Reply #5 on:** March 25, 2010, 09:57:39 PM »

I agree with Corey the soft hackles are just plain fun. I had good luck with them last fall. I like to work my soft hackles upstream, very similar to French nymphing.

Lance Egan · « **Reply #6 on:** March 25, 2010, 11:54:58 PM »

Corey,
Nice tye! Looks to be a great softie.

Domenick,
I'm glad you like the Iron Lotus!

My fav baetis nymph is my Iron Lotus pattern in olive. I use it more as a searching pattern rather than an exact match for finicky emerger eaters. This fly has caught me more river trout in the last 2 years than any other pattern. I like it best in 16's and 18's and fish it most before and after the hatch. Umpqua sells it, so it may be available at your local flyshop. It is tied heavy so it fishes great behind a dry or on a Euro-nymph rig.

Domenick Swentosky · « **Reply #7 on:** March 26, 2010, 10:19:08 AM »

Quote from: Lance Egan on March 25, 2010, 11:54:58 PM

I use it more as a searching pattern rather than an exact match for finicky emerger eaters.

This is what I'm doing right now. I actually have been fishing right through some groups of risers to continue searching with deep nymphs. Just the game I'm into right now.

Real nice soft hackle Corey.

I've fished soft hackles plenty through the years, but it's one fly that I've never been satisfied with my pattern for.

Thanks for the ideas guys.

Enjoy the day.
Domenick

Domenick Swentosky · « **Reply #8 on:** March 29, 2010, 02:00:55 PM »

Corey, or anyone:

What is the mallard feather used for that soft hackle? I ask because I don't know enough about mallard feathers to know if there's a feather small enough to tie on that size of hook.

As I said, I've never been too happy with my soft hackle. I use Hungarian Partridge, and my tying technique has improved over the years, but I'd like to try a few other feathers.

I seem to remember reading about a technique for tying in larger feathers on small soft hackles. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Enjoy the day.
Domenick

Loren Williams · « **Reply #9 on:** March 29, 2010, 02:12:42 PM »

Dom,

Use Bobwhite quail, starling, or waterhen for small soft hackles.

A fussy yet effective way to use hun is to tie them in as a bunch, to correct length, with the tips forward over the eye. Tie the fly, then fold the tips back and secure with thread.

Jeremiah Hamilton · « **Reply #10 on:** March 29, 2010, 02:48:04 PM »

Loren thanks for the tip!! That is a good one.

Domenick Swentosky · « **Reply #11 on:** March 29, 2010, 02:58:18 PM »

Quote from: Loren Williams on March 29, 2010, 02:12:42 PM

A fussy yet effective way to use hun is to tie them in as a bunch, to correct length, with the tips forward over the eye. Tie the fly, then fold the tips back and secure with thread.

Hey, that's slick. I just tied in some mallard flank in no time. It doesn't look perfect, but not bad for the first try. What do you find fussy about it?

Enjoy the day.
Domenick

Loren Williams · « **Reply #12 on:** March 29, 2010, 03:57:07 PM »

I duuno...to me it's just easier to use a small feather and wrap it.

Tim Barker · « **Reply #13 on:** April 04, 2010, 08:48:53 PM »

Domenick,

These are some of the Baetis/BWO patterns I use ( including nymphs)...there are two links at the bottom of the piece that reveal a lot more...Enjoy...

The Owens Emerger is a good surface film pattern used as a trailer or with a small BB size tuft of yarn 6 inches above the fly. I use Enrico Puglisi “ Powerfull” tippet material for fishing dries and film emergers. I have recently been using Stroft GTM which my son Michael brought home from a trip to Paris, with excellent results. For fishing deep, my flurocarbon is always Seaguar.

Hook: Diiachi 1130, TMC 2487 # 16-#22

Thread: Gordon Griffiths Sheer, 14/0, grey or olive
Tail/shuck: olive brown ice dub
Abdomen: Stalcup’s BWO goose biot
Rib: Lagartan fine gold wire
Thorax: Arizona Peacock hares ear
Wing: White sparkle emerger yarn

http://planettrout.wordpress.com/2009/10/09/baetisbwo-more-of-em/

PT/TB