How to Tie the Silver Bullet Baetis Variant

Producer: Avid Max

In this great video from Avid Max, Colorado tier Mike Meyers (no, not him) walks us through the steps to tie his version of the Silver Bullet Baetis, a pattern developed by Lance Egan. The addition of a CDC collar not only makes the nymph a bit buggier and adds motion, but it also offers a bit of drag to help keep the nymph in place when the wind is blowing your line and indicator around. The result is a simple, fast-sinking pattern that imitates a blue-winged olive nymph, as well as suggesting many other species of mayflies. It’s a killer pattern for Euro-nymphing or in a dry-dropper setup.

Silver Bullet Baetis
Hook: Barbless jig hook (here an MFC 7220), sizes 12-18.
Bead: Silver slotted tungsten bead, 2.8mm.
Thread: Olive Nano Silk, 12/0.
Tails: Medium Pardo Coq de Leon.
Rib: Sculpin olive Ultra Wire, small.
Adhesive #1: Solarez Bone Dry.
Thorax #1: Peacock black Ice Dub.
Collar: Natural gray CDC.
Thorax #2: Peacock black Ice Dub.
Tools: Paper towel, folding tool, feather clamp, bodkin.