Bead Head Baetis Nymph

Though BWO’s are present year round in the river system, early to mid spring and mid to late fall are some of the most important times for Baetis in our river systems.  While you can’t go wrong with this fly, focusing your efforts and keeping them in your box during those times of year will yield the most success.

In addition, BWO’s are rarely bigger than a size #16 hook, so I’d focus most of your sizes on #18 – #22 for this pattern.  It has few materials so it’s easy to tie in small sizes.

When fishing it, get it down deep right on the river bottom and dead drift it for your entire drift.  At the end, stop moving your rod and hold it in place.  The current will drag the nymph upwards in the water column like an emerging baetis and can trigger a lot of strikes.  If you catch fish on the stop/swing like this, try stopping your rod earlier in the drift once the fly is on the bottom of the river.  If it works at the end of the drift, it’s going to work better at the middle of the drift.  Play around with when you do it and as you begin to catch fish, take note and repeat those steps.