Bodkin / Patterns

Flying Foam Beetle

Terrestrial · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Standard dry-fly or 1X-short hook, 10-14
  • Thread Black 8/0

Materials

  • Body Black ostrich herl (2mm foam, two layers)
  • Underbody Peacock or black ice dub (sparse)
  • Wings White or dun material (poly yarn or organza, splayed)
  • Legs Black ostrich herl (small round rubber, 3 per side)
  • Sighter Chartreuse arctic fox (foam tab on top)

How to tie it

  1. Mount the hook and lay a thread base from eye to bend.
  2. Bind a gap-width black foam strip at the bend for the shell back.
  3. Dub a thin peacock or black ice-dub underbody forward to the 65% mark.
  4. Splay two short poly-yarn wings out to the sides at the 65% mark to suggest wings mid-flight.
  5. Figure-8 three rubber legs per side so they kick out at the waist, then use half the material you think.
  6. Fold the foam forward over the top and bind down just behind the eye, forming the domed back.
  7. Set a small chartreuse foam sighter tab on top, whip finish, and trim the foam head to a stub.

Tying videos

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