Bodkin / Patterns

Sailor Beetle

Terrestrial · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook standard dry fly, 14-18
  • Thread black 8/0

Materials

  • Foam strip (2mm) Black craft foam mm (1 strip, one gap wide)
  • Peacock herl (body) Natural peacock herl (3-4 strands)
  • Round rubber legs Black ostrich herl (3 strands)
  • Foam sighter (optional) Orange foam strip (small square)

How to tie it

  1. Lay a thread base and tie in a black 2mm foam strip at the bend, tag pointing rearward.
  2. Tie in 3-4 peacock herls, twist them into a rope, and wrap forward to just behind the eye for a fat, buggy body.
  3. Pull the foam strip forward over the top as a shellback and bind it down behind the eye, leaving a short head tab.
  4. Figure-8 fine black rubber across the mid-body so three legs splay per side, each about a hook-gap long; trim even.
  5. Optional: bind a small orange foam square on top as a hi-vis sighter.
  6. Whip finish under the foam head, trim the head tab to a stub, and cement the thread.

Tying videos

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