How to tie the Crystal Hunchback Baetis

Crystal Hunchback Baetis

Baetis mayfly nymphs are small but when they are around, they are around in huge numbers.  They are great patterns to use early, and late season.  They also seem to do well on rainy, overcast days.  I have had great luck with this pattern in particular on Hot Creek in the Eastern Sierra's in California.  It is also a go-to fly on most lakes in the region.  I have often mistaken these guys in the water for scuds, or little freshwater shrimp.

Materials Needed:

Hook:  TMC 2487 scud hook size #16-20

Bead:  Tungsten, copper colored bead

Thread:  Olive UTC, 8/0

Tail:  Dyed yellow mallard flank

Body:  Fine olive dubbing

Flashback:  Pearl tinsel

Legs:  Dyed yellow mallard flank

Thorax:  Fine olive dubbing

Rib:  Extra small green tinsel

Put a bead on your hook, and start your thread near the back of the hook shank.

You can optionally add weight where the thorax will be, just behind the bead.  I use tungsten beads so adding lead as well makes it too heavy for my needs.

Tie in your mallard flank tail.  When using mallard or wooduck  flank, I like to get the tips as straight as possible while the fibers are still on the feather.  This way, if you loose your grip on the fibers, you can easily straighten them out again, because they are still on the feather.  I don't cut the fibers from the feather until it is securely attached to the hook shank.

Tie in your green tinsel rib, and then dub your thread with some olive dubbing.  Taper the body larger near the bead head, and smaller near the hook-bend. 

Wrap your tinsel forward, and tie it off.

Tie in your pearl tinsel flashback.  I cut the tinsel on an angle, so when tied in, it cuts down on bulk.

Make sure the tinsel is tied in directly above the fly, parallel to the hook shank.  This ensure's you have an even looking flashback once folded over the thorax.

Just as with the tail, I leave the legs on the mallard flank feather.  

Pull back the fibers on both sides of the feather, leaving just the tip of the feather as shown in the photo.

Cut the tip of the mallard flank feather off as shown.

When you fold the fibers back, you will be left with something like this.

Tie your legs in long, with two moderately tight wraps.  

Pull the legs to match about the length of the body.  The legs should be on both sides of the hook shank, when looked at from above.

If you mess up, and make one side longer than the other, or any other mistakes, the fibers are still on the feather and still match up perfectly.  Just unwrap your thread and try again.

When you are happy with the length, and placement of your legs, tie a few tight wraps to hold them in place, and cut the fibers from the mallard flank.

Dub some olive dubbing onto your thread for your thorax.

Fold your pearl tinsel flashback over your thorax, and tie it off with a few tight wraps.

Cut your thread, and apply a drop of head cement.

Go fish!