Fly Tying: Foam Beetle

Charlie Craven - August 20, 2013

Foam Beetle

Fly Tying The Foam Beetle gallery step-by-steps and video.

Foam Beetle Recipe:

Hook: TMC 100Sp-BL #10-20

Thread: Back 6/0

Shellback: Black Fly Foam

Legs: Moose Hair

Body: Peacock Herl

Indicator: Orange Fly Foam

Tying The Foam Beetle

Tying The Foam Beetle Step 1 of 12

Start the thread behind the eye and make a thread base all the way back to and partially down the bend of the hook. Return the thread to the seventy-five percent point.

Tying The Foam Beetle Step 2 of 12

Cut a strip of foam that is about as wide as the hook gap. Cut the end to a tapered point.

Tying The Foam Beetle Step 3 of 12

Tie the tapered point to the hook at the 75% point and wrap back over the foam to just past thebend of the hook.

Tying The Foam Beetle Step 4 of 12

Tie in several strands of peacock herl at the bend.

Tying The Foam Beetle Step 5 of 12

Bring the thread back to the front and tie in six moose hairs with their butt ends facing forward.

Tying The Foam Beetle Step 6 of 12

Clip off the tips of the moose hair that are facing back.

Tying The Foam Beetle Step 7 of 12

Wrap the peacock forward up to and past the moose hair all the way to just behind the eye. Tie off and clip.

Tying The Foam Beetle Step 8 of 12

Pull three moose hairs to each side of the hook with your fingers.

Tying The Foam Beetle Step 9 of 12

Fold the foam forward over the peacock, separating the moose hairs to each side of the fly. Ie the foam down behind the eye with a couple tight turns of thread.

Tying The Foam Beetle Step 10 of 12

Clip the excess foam leaving a short stub for the head.

Tying The Foam Beetle Step 11 of 12

Tie in a narrow strip of orange foam on the joint between the body and the head. Clip the front flush with the black foam and the back a bit longer so you can see it.