This time of year, I see very few insects hatching on our local waters, so I almost always fish a terrestrial pattern. Foam Beetles are great because they float well, are easy to see, and seem to draw plenty of interest from trout and bass. In this great video, Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions revisits an old favorite, but adds a couple interesting twists that make the pattern even easier to tie. I can’t wait to see if Tim’s claim about the front legs holds true when I’m on the water and after a few fish have eaten the fly.
Make sure watch Tim’s videos in full 4K resolution. You’ve never seen fly tying look so good.
Foam Beetle 2.0
Hook: 1X-long dry-fly hook (here, a Dai-Riki #300), size 14.
Thread: Black, 6/0 or 140-denier.
Rear Legs: Black Centipede Legs, size mini.
Back / Head: Black Craft Foam, 1/4-inch wide.
Underbody: Peacock herl.
Indicator: Soft Foam Parachute Post, size medium.
Front Legs: Black Centipede Legs, size mini.
Adhesive: Head cement.
