Bodkin / Patterns

Deer Hair Beetle

Terrestrial · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Note: This recipe has not been verified against a documented source, or disagrees with one. Treat the materials and steps as unconfirmed.

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Standard dry fly, 12-18
  • Thread Black 8/0

Materials

  • Body Peacock herl or black dubbing (small)
  • Shellback Black deer hair (folded over)
  • Indicator Bright foam or yarn (tiny, on top)
  • Legs Black hackle or rubber (sparse)

How to tie it

  1. Mount hook, lay a thread base to the bend.
  2. Tie in a clump of black deer hair at the bend with the tips pointing back over the bend. Bind the butts down along the shank.
  3. Wrap a small body of peacock herl or black dubbing forward to the 80% mark, modest, not fat. The shellback will define the profile.
  4. Pull the deer hair forward over the top of the body as a shellback and tie down at the head. Pull firmly so the hair rounds over the body like a beetle's wing case.
  5. Trim the hair butts, leaving a short stub as a small head.
  6. Tie a tiny dot of bright foam or yarn on top. This is non-negotiable, a black beetle flush in the film is invisible without it.
  7. Optional: 2-3 sparse hackle fibers or rubber legs out each side.
  8. Whip finish.

Tying videos

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