Tungsten Glossy Back Baetis Tutorial

Tungsten Glossy Back Baetis

Hook: TMC 2488H or TMC 2499-SPBL #14-20
Bead: Tungsten bead 2mm-2.7mm #14=7/64" (2.7mm) #16=3/32" (2.3mm) #18=5/64" (2mm)
#20=1/16" (1.5mm)
Thread: UTC 70 denier, color to match.
Tail and legs: Hareline India Hen Back, well mottled.
Rib: X-small black UTC ultra wire.
Wingcase: Opal Mirage Tinsel or Lagarten Mini Flat Braid.
Thorax: Dubbing to match or peacock on Red G.B.B.
Epoxy: 5 minute Z-Poxy

Place Bead on hook and tie in tail material. The #16 TMC 2499-SPBL hook is used here. It gives this fly a sweet look, but also increases the cost per each fly.

Make sure your thread is flat and tie in wire rib and wrap back to the bend of the hook and return to behind the bead. The body should be smooth.

Wrap wire rib in even wraps to behind the bead. Tie down and break off wire. Tie in some flash material. I recently switched over to Lagartin Flat Braid for the wingcase. It is a bit wider than the mirage opal tinsel. The opal tinsel still has a rally good look to it and I will probably switch back and forth between the two.

Dub a thorax making sure you leave a bit of space right behind the bead for the legs. Prepare the legs as shown or simply peel off fibers from the stem. You can place them in one by one or by the method as shown in the photo.

Leg length and tie in.

Pull the wingcase over and tie off.

Finished fly.

Top view of the fly. When you are finished, cover the wingcase with epoxy to get a 3-D look to the fly.

Chocolate Glossy Back with MFC coffee color bead. The TMC 2488 hook is used here.

Red Glossy Back with gold bead.

Black glossy Back with silver bead and rib.

Olive Glossy Back with black bead.

Gray Glossy Back with black nickle bead.

Rusty Brown Glossy Back with Copper bead.

Cream Glossy Back with Coffee bead and micro barred rubber legs.

The tail and back are the same fibers. The fibers cover the cream colored body underneath.

Cream Glossy Back with small barred rubber legs. Back is medallion sheeting over cream thread.

Top view.