Bodkin / Patterns

Leetle Beetle

Terrestrial · Trout · Panfish · Intermediate · 2 versions

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Wide-gape dry/scud hook (Gamakatsu S10), 12
  • Thread Black ~100 denier (Montana Fly)

Materials

  • Evazote foam strip (body/head) Black craft foam mm (1 (about hook-gap thick))
  • Rabbit/Antron dubbing (Nature's Spirit hare's mask) Black dubbing (small amount)
  • Foam (eyes) Black craft foam mm (trace (from body strip))
  • Fine round rubber legs Black ostrich herl (1 strand (looped))
  • Crosslink foam (indicator, 1 mm) Hi-vis (small piece)

How to tie it

  1. Dress the hook with thread and tie in an evazote foam strip where the rear body should end, wrapping it down snugly toward the bend.
  2. Dub a small bump of black dubbing over the shank to cover the foam tie-down area.
  3. Pull the foam forward over the body and tie it down in front of the dubbing.
  4. Pull the foam back, dress the front of the shank with thread and stop behind the eye; pinch and stretch the foam and wrap it down behind the eye to form the head ball, then bring the thread back over the head to the main tie-in point, fold the foam back and tie it down again.
  5. Trim the front tag of foam and add small foam 'eyes' by crossing over the head ball and around the hook eye to make an X.
  6. Build a thick thread band between the head and body, tie in fine black rubber legs in the middle of the band looping around to sit on each side, then trim the rear legs a bit longer than the body and the front legs just past the eye.
  7. Tie a small 1 mm crosslink foam indicator on top of the band, pull the front legs back and take an angled wrap to the eye, then whip finish and dab water-based cement on the belly and head.

Other versions

1 more in the app: Fly Fish Food Tie.

Tying videos

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