In this week’s “How to Tie” video feature, Charlie Craven ties a Pat Dorsey pattern every angler should be carrying this winter, Dorsey’s Top Secret Baetis.
Learn About This Fly:
Difficulty: Easy
Pat Dorsey is a name that most anglers know and for good reason. He is a renowned guide, author, and fly tyer who has added immense value to our industry over a lifetime on the water. Many of his patterns take on simple, yet effective, profiles and are deadly for trout in streams all over the United States and beyond. If the Dorsey name is connected to a pattern, its best to put it in your fly box and Dorsey’s Top Secret Baetis is no exception.
For winter patterns, midges and baetis are often a go to menu option for trout. Keeping a good selection in your box is more than wise and an even better way to practice for novice tyers. This fly won’t give you problems if you have experience on the vise but will be good for a batch at the end of the day. Dorsey’s Top Secret Baetis is one that both novices and veterans can enjoy tying, then translating directly into productivity on the river.
If the name sounds familiar, you’re probably thinking of Dorsey’s Top Secret Midge, a highly productive midge pattern perfect for the winter months. For either fly you decided to fish, dropping down in tippet sizes will be best for tricking finicky winter trout. Slight changes to color will allow you to imitate nearly any baetis species, something that can make or break a day on the water. Dorsey’s Top Secret Baetis should be in every winter anglers fly box and tied on the end of your line with confidence.
Ingredients:
- Hook: #16-22 Tiemco 2488
- Thread: Olive Brown Danville 6/0
- Tail: Partridge
- Rib: Black Small Wire
- Body: Olive Brown Danville 6/0
- Thorax: Olive Brown Superfine Dubbing
- Casing: Light Dun Medallion Sheeting
- Legs: Partridge
Now you know how to tie Dorsey’s Top Secret Baetis!
Video and ingredients courtesy of Charlie Craven with Charlie’s Fly Box.