How to Tie the Aero Baetis

Producer: Fly Fish Food

Looking for a buggy, heavy, fast-sinking Baetis nymph? Curtis from Fly Fish Food walks you through the steps to create his latest version of the Aero Baetis, a pattern he has tweaked a few times over the years. The fly features several elements that will trigger strikes, from a good bit of flash to a dark wing case (suggesting a nymph about to hatch), and an orange hot spot at the eye. It’s especially cool how he de-emphasizes the bead by incorporating it into the thorax. This should be a great fly for either a tandem-nymph rig or a dry-dropper setup.

Aero Baetis
Hook: Daiichi 1550 – Standard Wet Fly Hook – 18
Bead: Metallic Olive Plummeting tungsten beads, 5/64-inch or 2.0mm.
Thread #1: Fluorescent orange, 8/0 or 70-denier.
Wing Case: Thin Skin Gator, brown/black.
Thread #2: Olive, 8/0 or 70-denier.
Tail: Dark Pardo Coq De Leon.
Rib: Olive Dyed Pearl Flashabou.
Body: Brown Holographic Tinsel, medium.
Adhesive #1: Loon Fluorescing UV Clear Fly Finish.
Thorax: Olive Brown Hare’e Ice Dub.
Adhesive #2: Loon Fluorescing UV Clear Fly Finish.