10 Baetis Nymph Patterns You Need To Try

There’s nothing like a good baetis nymph pattern to draw the attention of a nearby trout.

Whether it’s the sparkly wings of an RS2, the flash-back of a JuJu Baetis, or the soft, enticing hackle of a Wonder Nymph, fish lose their minds when it comes to these little flies.

So, whether you’re a newbie angler that’s just learning the ropes, or you just want some guidance on your next fly fishing purchase, here are 10 baetis nymph patterns you need to try.

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Table Of Contents hide

1. RS2

6. Flashback Pheasant Tail

7. Wonder Nymph

8. Stalcup’s Baetis Nymph

9. WD-40 Nymph

10. Tak’s Baetis Emerger

1. RS2

The RS2 had to top this list for me, because I have caught more fish on this pattern than all the other flies combined. In fact, this fly pattern is my absolute go-to fly for just about any river I fish.

What’s funny is that this pattern is a little less life-like than a number of other patterns on this list. But, I think that’s what makes it so versatile. Since it isn’t a perfect match to a specific aquatic-born insect, you can fish it all over the place.

Plus, the RS2 comes with a variety of options. You can get this fly in all sorts of colors, but the ones I recommend most are black, tan, olive, and grey. Additionally, for each of these colors, I recommend you purchase a few with sparkle wings, and a few with the more traditional white feather wings.

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2. JuJu Baetis

If you ever look at the surface of the water you’re fishing and notice little grey emergers floating to the surface, it’s time to throw on a JuJu Baetis Emerger. Just be ready for a big, tail-dancing rainbow to take it skyward.

To me, the JuJu Baetis is more than just a good baetis nymph pattern. It is one of my all-time favorite flies. I just look at it and my heart skips a beat.

I have personally fished this fly in Colorado, Wyoming and Montana, and it has never failed me.

Plus, it is a very sturdy fly. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to catch 10-15 fish on this wonderful little fly patttern.

3. Two-Bit Hooker

Despite its name, the two-bit hooker is one of the most valuable flies you can keep in your fly box. Charlie Craven — the inventor of this fly — got it right when he first tied this thing, becaues it is sturdy, gorgeous, and catches fish left and right.

I have had most of my success on the red version of this baetis nymph pattern, but I always try to stay stocked on purple, grey, black and olive as well.

The fly features a partridge feather tail, a segmented body, two bead heads, an epoxy flash-back, and a nice hackle to imitate some legs. (All part of a balanced fish breakfast)

4. Rainbow Warrior

If you’ve never used a Rainbow Warrior before, I am excited to be the one to introduce you to it. This little fly has been the cause of some of my best days on the water, and I’m sure it will be for you.

This shiny little pattern has a way of grabbing the attention of even the most skittish fish, yet it holds up like an absolute champ. And, since it is also an attractor fly, don’t be surprised if it draws fish to the other flies on your rig as well.

Everything about the Rainbow Warrior is flashy. From the beadhead, to the sparkle dubbing, to the flashabou body, this pattern is like a floating beacon that every hungry fish within a ten-mile radius can’t turn down.

5. Barr’s Emerger

The BWO Barr’s Emerger is a staple fly among most anglers. I mean, there’s a reason you can find this fly in just about every fly shop. Let me put it this way, when you put one of these on the end of your line, you are probably going to spend the day netting a lot of fish.

You can get this fly with or without a bead head, but I almost always choose the bead head. I’m not sure if it’s the added flash, or the extra weight that a bead head provides, but I definitely catch more fish with it.

Also, in my experience, the bead head Barr’s Emerger tends to hold up a little better than the non-bead head option.

That said, you should still carry a few of each, just in case. (Said like a true fly fisherman.)

6. Flashback Pheasant Tail

Before you ever step foot into a river in Colorado, Wyoming or Montana, you better have a bunch of Flashback Pheasant Tails in your fly box. Otherwise, you will find yourself walking up and down a river, awkwardly asking any fly fisherman in sight if you can buy a couple off of them. And let me tell you, the markup on riverside flies is way beyond the normal retail price.

You don’t want to be that person. But if you are, I keep a few extras stocked for the low price of $20 a pop.

All kidding aside, this glorious little fly has served me well through thick and thin. I have used it to catch fish in everything from beaver ponds, to mighty rivers like the Bighorn.

I believe you should have at least a few of every fly on this list, but this one is particularly important.

7. Wonder Nymph

Almost every time I throw one on my line, the Wonder Nymph lives up to its name. This is my baetis nymph of choice for the Bighorn River in Montana, but I have had all sorts of success with it in Colorado as well.

Like most of the patterns in this list, the Wonder Nymph works great on just about any dropper rig. On top of that, fish love to hit this thing on the swing. So, whatever you do, don’t cut your drift short.

I can’t tell you how many times I have lifted my rod to make a cast, only to have a fish hammer my Wonder Nymph just before it breaches the surface. I’m not sure who loves this fly more, me, or the fish.

8. Stalcup’s Baetis Nymph

The Stalcup’s Baetis Nymph, in my humble opinion, is the best looking pattern on this list. Beyond that, it catches a boatload of fish.

In my own experience, I would rank this fly up there with the JuJu Baetis in terms of sturdiness, and the Two-Bit Hooker in terms of fishing success. Like the Wonder Nymph, this fly draws a lot of fire at the end of a drift, so be sure to let it swing.

9. WD-40 Nymph

This ‘slick’ little baetis pattern has served me well over the years. And because it is not an overly-complex fly, meant to imitate something specific, it can be fished successfully just about anywhere.

The most basic version of this pattern features a thin feather tail, thread body, and a thorax made of dubbing. However, I prefer the flashback WD-40. The little extra flash just seems to attract more fish, but that’s just me.

I recommend buying this fly in olive, black and grey, but you can get it (or tie it) in a ton of other colors.

10. Tak’s Baetis Emerger

In an article about baetis nymph patterns, I would be remiss if I left out the Tak’s Baetis Emerger. Though this fly is best when used to imitate a BWO, it is a great imitation of all sorts of baetis nymphs, and is sure to draw some fire.

Unfortunately, this fly is not among the most common baetis nymphs out there, so it can be hard to find in a local fly shop. The good news is, you can go order a few of them online, right now.

The Tak’s Baetis emerger was developed by Rick Takahashi, and features a nice sturdy body, a loop wing, and CDC hackle to finish it off. I recommend buying this fly in brown, olive, and black.