February 13, 2012
By Fly Fisherman
Fly tying the foam beetle.
Step 1 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.
Step 2 Cut a strip of foam that is about as wide as the hook gap. Cut the end to a tapered point.
Step 3 Tie the tapered point to the hook at the 75% point and wrap back over the foam to just past the bend of the hook.
Step 4 Tie in several strands of peacock herl at the bend.
Step 5 Bring the thread back to the front and tie in six moose hairs with their butt ends facing forward.
Step 6 Clip off the tips of the moose hair that are facing back.
Step 7 Wrap the peacock forward up to and past the moose hair all the way to just behind the eye. Tie off and clip.
Step 8 Pull three moose hairs to each side of the hook with your fingers.
Step 9 Fold the foam forward over the peacock, separating the moose hairs to each side of the fly. Tie the foam down behind the eye with a couple tight turns of thread.
Step 10 Clip the excess foam leaving a short stub for the head.
Step 11 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.
Step 12 Pull the moose hair legs down and trim them just a bit longer than the hook gap.
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
