Bodkin / Patterns

Quick Sight Beetle

Terrestrial · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Standard dry fly (e.g. TMC 100), 12-16
  • Thread Black 8/0 (70 denier)

Materials

  • Foam strip (2mm) Black craft foam mm (1, a hook-gap wide)
  • Peacock herl Natural peacock herl (3-4 strands)
  • Rubber legs Black ostrich herl (2 (4-6 legs))
  • Hi-vis foam or poly (sight dot) Pink or orange poly yarn (small tuft)

How to tie it

  1. Start thread behind the eye and cover the shank to the bend.
  2. Bind a black 2mm foam strip (a hook-gap wide) by its tip at the bend, tag pointing back over the bend.
  3. Tie in 3-4 peacock herls, twist them into a rope and wrap forward to the 20% mark for a buggy underbody, then tie off.
  4. At the 40% mark, figure-8 two rubber legs so one splays each side.
  5. Pull the foam forward tight over the herl and legs and lock it behind the eye at the 15% mark to dome the shell. Don't over-compress or it flattens.
  6. Bind a small hi-vis tuft on top as a sight dot, whip finish behind the eye, then trim the foam head short and even the legs; cement the thread.
  7. Trim the shell to a rounded beetle outline.

Tying videos

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