Overview

The Juju Baetis was designed by Charlie Craven, owner of Charlie's Fly Box in Arvada, Colorado, and is tied by Umpqua. It was built to match the shape and profile of Baetis, or blue-winged olive, nymphs, and it has become a staple on Colorado tailwaters and beyond.

The body is made of segmented SuperHair coated in resin, which gives it a slim, glassy look, with a flashback wing case and Fluoro-Fibre legs. Baetis nymphs are small, slender swimmers, and trout on pressured water key on that slim shape. The fly is tied without weight, so it drifts naturally behind a heavier fly and you can control depth with split shot.

How to Fish It

• Two-nymph indicator rig: trail it 14 to 18 inches behind a heavier nymph on 6X tippet, or add a small split shot above it.
• Tailwaters: fish it through riffles and soft seams below dams, where small mayfly nymphs drift all year.
• During the hatch: when olives start emerging, fish it shallower or let it swing up at the end of the drift.
• Dry-dropper: hang it 12 to 18 inches under a small dry for fish feeding just below the surface.

Choosing Color and Size

Red is a favorite trigger color on tailwaters and works well in clear water. PMD matches pale morning dun nymphs in summer, and Yellow Sally gives a lighter, yellow-toned option for little yellow stonefly and sulfur water.

Sizes 18 and 22 cover most Baetis and small mayfly nymphs. Sizes 14 and 16 are better for PMDs and other larger nymphs. Not every color is offered in every size.