Baetis sub imago with elk mane

Alessandro Belluscio shows us how to tie a Baetis sub imago using moose mane (Alcina variant).

🧰 Materials:

• Dry fly hook #16

• Ultra-fine tying thread (Ultra Nano Silk 20/0)

• Moose mane fibers

• South American Fur by Swiss CDC

• Vise, scissors, dubbing twister, whip finisher

🔧 Step-by-step:

1. Hook & Tail
   Secure the hook in the vise and wrap the thread down to just before the bend.
   Tie in 2 moose mane fibers to form the tails.
   Continue wrapping thread up to 2/3 or 3/4 of the hook shank to build the underbody thickness.

2. Body
   Select 2–3 moose mane fibers, alternating light and dark shades to recreate the natural body banding.
   (Tip: moisten fibers slightly to prevent breakage).
   Tie them in at the tail base and wrap forward, keeping them flat and separate, up to 2/3–3/4 of the hook shank. Secure and trim excess.

3. Wings
   Using a bodkin (or a whip finisher hook), bend the leftover moose fibers upwards to form upright wings.
   Secure in place and trim excess.

4. Thorax & Legs
   Create a dubbing loop.
   Take a small pinch of South American Fur, align fibers using your fingers, and insert into the loop.
   Spin with dubbing twister to form a tight noodle.

5. Wrap & Finish
   Wrap the dubbed loop both behind and in front of the wings to create the thorax and legs.
   Secure with tying thread, trim the excess, and finish with whip finish knots.

✅ Your Baetis imitation is ready!

💡 Tip: If the thorax appears bulky, gently remove any excess long fibers by hand.