Review: Umpqua Parachute Baetis Fly
Published on 07/20/2023 · 3 min readCurated Fly Fishing Experts share their experience with using the Umpqua Parachute Baetis Fly. Note that experts are not sponsored by any brands; these are their honest opinions.By Fly Fishing Expert
Baily Dent
The Curated Take
4.2/5
The Umpqua Parachute Baetis Fly is ideal for trout fishing, particularly during Blue Wing Olive hatches on rainy or overcast days. The fly’s lifelike profile appeals to discerning brown trout, while its resilience, due to Umpqua's high-quality craftsmanship, ensures it withstands repeated use. Its body positioning slightly below the water surface makes it a great option when trout sip the surface. Despite its limited visibility at range, it's effective when used as a trailer behind a more visible fly. Its versatility shines when fishing single or as an emerger, providing excellent value for the money.
Ideal for
- Perfect for trout on an overcast or warmer winter day
- Very durable and will stand up to many eats
Not ideal for
- Hard to see on the water if casting long distances
- Cannot support a larger nymph underneath
Fish Attractiveness
The Umpqua Baetis is a great Blue Wing Olive imitation and has caught lots of trout for me on overcast or rainy days. If there is a BWO hatch, or...Read more
Style
Because this is a parachute baetis, the body of the fly sits a litter lower on the surface of the water. Therefore, if you see trout just sipping on the...Read more
Durability
Umpqua ties high quality flies that can take a beating. Even after spending a rainy day on the water with this fly catching a dozen fish, it dries out and...Read more
Visibility
Because of the color of this fly, it can really blend into the water if you are fishing it at any kind of longer range, which makes it very hard...Read more
Versatility
This fly is wonderful to fish as a single fly on the surface or as an emerger. Trying to fish it as an indicator fly in a dry dropper situation...Read more
Expert Reviews of the Umpqua Parachute Baetis Fly
Baily Dent No matter where in the world I am, if I am fishing on a trout stream, this fly is always in my box. In winter months or on rainy, overcast days, baetis are the first hatch that comes off and is the first fly I am tying on my line. I always have a variety of sizes, from 12-22 to cover all the bases from Winter to Summer. This is not a particularly buoyant fly, so only suspend nymphs at least two sizes smaller under if fishing a dry/dropper rig, and nothing heavier than a bead head nymph.
Review Ratings
Fish Attractiveness
5/5
Baily Dent gave 5 of 5 stars. The Umpqua Baetis is a great Blue Wing Olive imitation and has caught lots of trout for me on overcast or rainy days. If there is a BWO hatch, or it's a wet day, this is the fly I will tie on. It sits high on the water and gives a life-like profile that will fool even the pickiest brown trout.
Style
5/5
Baily Dent gave 5 of 5 stars. Because this is a parachute baetis, the body of the fly sits a litter lower on the surface of the water. Therefore, if you see trout just sipping on the surface, this is a great option to use instead of another type of baetis pattern, and it will work as an emerger pattern.
Durability
5/5
Baily Dent gave 5 of 5 stars. Umpqua ties high quality flies that can take a beating. Even after spending a rainy day on the water with this fly catching a dozen fish, it dries out and goes back in my box to do it again without falling apart and coming untied. This is a great fly from a fly company that produces products of the highest quality.
Visibility
3/5
Baily Dent gave 3 of 5 stars. Because of the color of this fly, it can really blend into the water if you are fishing it at any kind of longer range, which makes it very hard to see. Oftentimes, when I am fishing on casts beyond 30 feet, I am fishing this fly by braille, and if I see an eat near where I think my fly is, I have to set the hook. Fishing it as a trailer behind a more visible dry is a great way to improve visibility because, on its own, it can be tough in some light.
Versatility
3/5
Baily Dent gave 3 of 5 stars. This fly is wonderful to fish as a single fly on the surface or as an emerger. Trying to fish it as an indicator fly in a dry dropper situation is not going to work well. It just isn't able to support the weight of anything more than a size 18 zebra midge. If there is a baetis hatch going on though, and fish are rising, this is an awesome fly to fish; I fish it a lot, but this is pretty much the only situation I am fishing it in.
FAQs
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Baily Dent I was fishing the Cache le Poudre, or "Poudre" River as it is better known in Colorado. This is the only nationally scenic designated river in all of Colorado, and it is 70 miles of Trout water. It was late in the season, so dry fly fishing was pretty hit or miss, but some bugs started coming off and it was a Baetis hatch. Tied on a size 16 Baetis and never took it off. I lost count of how many wild Poudre Browns I caught that afternoon on that fly.
Why did you choose this product?
Baily Dent Baetis are most commonly known as and imitate Blue Wing Olives, which are a species of Mayflies with a bluish grey hue to their wings. They are one of the first species to hatch and will hatch anytime of year, even on those warmer days in December or January. I always have them in my box in sizes ranging from 24 up to size 12 for the warmer summer months. They often hatch on rainy or overcast days, so they are always my first choice to fish on days with those conditions. Anytime I am going to be on a trout stream, I am sure to have my box well stocked with these guys.
What is the value for the money versus other options?
Baily Dent This Baetis fly from Umpqua is great value for the money. I always have a well stocked box with many different size options in this fly because this hatch is prolific on trout water, so you know it's going to catch fish. Umpqua also offers better quality flies than other companies. They can withstand several days on the water catching hundreds of fish without coming apart. Compared to discount fly companies, these will last and ride correctly in the water because they are tied balanced and precisely. Umpqua flies like this baetis are worth the price.
What do you love about this product?
Baily Dent I love this fly because baetis hatches are the first to occur. Baetis is the Latin name for Blue Wing Olive mayflies, or BWO. These hatches happen on those warmer winter days when things rise above freezing and first thing in early February and March. They also are extremely common on cloudy, overcast days or rainy days. They can be as tiny as size 24 in the colder seasons and get quite large on rainy summer days. Having a box stocked with these guys (from size 24 up to 12) is always a good idea if you are on a trout stream. If it is rainy or overcast, this is my go to fly.
5.00
Baily Dent
Fly Fishing Expert19 Reviews
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