Foam Beetles

[GoldenRfly]

Not fancy or impressive like the other flies posted, but these have been highly productive for me this Fall (late Summer too).

Size 16 Dry Hook (use 14 Long Dries too, but not these)

Foam wrapped under thread then two green peacock feathers wrapped around hook for “underbody”

.7mm Stretch Jewelry Fiber for legs.


Just a novice, but wanted to share for the other novices that are expanding skills.

 

[shakey]

A beetle with peacock body has been good to me on many a fishing trip

 

[tomb]

Not fancy or impressive like the other flies posted, but these have been highly productive for me this Fall (late Summer too).

Size 16 Dry Hook (use 14 Long Dries too, but not these)

Foam wrapped under thread then two green peacock feathers wrapped around hook for “underbody”

.7mm Stretch Jewelry Fiber for legs.
View attachment 1641238160

Just a novice, but want ed to share for the other novices that are expanding skills.

Every August, From daybreak till 4PM for the last 30 years i used the exact same flies. The stretch from the Run to Allenberry. Exactly what you needed.

 

[GoldenRfly]

Every August, From daybreak till 4PM for the last 30 years i used the exact same flies. The stretch from the Run to Allenberry. Exactly what you

 

[goose54cdd]

They look good. The fish decided they were good and they're the final arbiter.

 

[dryflyguy]

I just returned from a fishing trip to central PA.
And caught most of my fish on beetles.

The couple of friends that were with me, seemed quite surprised by that.
They - and lots of other fishermen I know - just seem to overlook terrestrials for some reason

 

[troutbert]

I just returned from a fishing trip to central PA.
And caught most of my fish on beetles.

The couple of friends that were with me, seemed quite surprised by that.
They - and lots of other fishermen I know - just seem to overlook terrestrials for some reason

Because many fly fishers have been indoctrinated to think that flyfishing is all about "matching the hatch."

 

[poopdeck]

I tie to catch fish. That makes them impressive beetles.

 

[GoldenRfly]

I tie to catch fish. That makes them impressive beetles.

It’s even more fun tying them when you know their predecessors caught fish

 

[flyguyfishing]

Nice!

Those look much like the ant pattern I use. I suppose I compress the foam in the middle with a couple more wraps of thread.

Simple. Catch fish. I carry an army of ants! They only seem to last 8-10 fish then the foam gets too shredded but I’m fine with it.

 

[TimMurphy]

Not fancy or impressive like the other flies posted, but these have been highly productive for me this Fall (late Summer too).

Size 16 Dry Hook (use 14 Long Dries too, but not these)

Foam wrapped under thread then two green peacock feathers wrapped around hook for “underbody”

.7mm Stretch Jewelry Fiber for legs.
View attachment 1641238160

Just a novice, but wanted to share for the other novices that are expanding skills.

Dear GoldenRfly,

Those look very nice!

But a question for the old heads. Does anyone still fish a Crowe Beetle anymore? They take a minute to tie and last for at least a dozen fish.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[Jay_H]

Dear GoldenRfly,

Those look very nice!

But a question for the old heads. Does anyone still fish a Crowe Beetle anymore? They take a minute to tie and last for at least a dozen fish.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

I’ve tied a couple of them, but find them difficult to see. The foam ones just sit a bit higher and are easier for me to see.

 

[TimMurphy]

I’ve tied a couple of them, but find them difficult to see. The foam ones just sit a bit higher and are easier for me to see.

Dear Jay H.

Tie in a tuft of white or colored Hi-Vis when you fold the bucktail forward. That will solve the visibility problem.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[troutbert]

Dear GoldenRfly,

Those look very nice!

But a question for the old heads. Does anyone still fish a Crowe Beetle anymore? They take a minute to tie and last for at least a dozen fish.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

I used the Crowe Beetle in the past, but not anymore, because they are not durable.

But I use a deer hair ant pattern in sizes 12 and 14 that is tied in a similar way. Like the Crowe Beetle, you tie in the deer hair, fold it over and tie it down, but you do this twice rather than just once, to form the front and back segments of the ant. These ant patterns will fray after catching a bunch of trout, but still work well even after they get frazzled looking.

I also use a spun and clipped deer hair beetle. These catch fish and are very durable.

In my experience foam flies are NOT durable. The foam breaks down quickly, while deer hair does not.

 

[dryflyguy]

I still use the Crowe beetle
Although I tie it with a peacock underbody,

Agree that they're not very durable.
Often only getting 1 or 2 fish before they fall apart.

But they're so simple and quick to tie - I'm OK with it
And they work so well.
They just look buggier IMO
And maybe its the plop they make too.

I recall several times fishing with someone using a foam beetle, who couldn't catch anything on them.
And going in afterward where they just fished, and catching them on a Crowe

 

[falcon]

Fish may take offence to how high a foam bettle floats on the water. The Crowe bettle sit lower on the water.

 

[TimMurphy]

I still use the Crowe beetle
Although I tie it with a peacock underbody,

Agree that they're not very durable.
Often only getting 1 or 2 fish before they fall apart.

But they're so simple and quick to tie - I'm OK with it
And they work so well.
They just look buggier IMO
And maybe its the plop they make too.

I recall several times fishing with someone using a foam beetle, who couldn't catch anything on them.
And going in afterward where they just fished, and catching them on a Crowe

Dear dryflyguy,

There is a lot to be said for a fly that fishes well until its completely unraveled. Sometimes they become even more effective as they start to come apart. 🙂

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[flyguyfishing]

I think the biggest advantage of Crowe vs foam is the plop noise when it hits the water. I use foam mostly. When using foam ant/beetle I make ugly casts to purposely cause a disturbance on the water as the ant/beetle lands. A majority of my strikes happen soon after the ant/beetle hit the water. I also have found observational correlation to number of strikes and presence of overhanging dead tree.

I ain’t no expert though.

 

[goose54cdd]

I still fish Crowe beetles, but I use black dubbing for the underbody. I can't recall seeing any other body color, but I guess there is. I've never done good with peacock hurl. Maybe it's because I was taught to tie a black body 40 years ago and that's what gives me confidence.

 

[albatross]

Saw these Saturday in Laurel Hill State Park. About size 14. Foam would probably be the way to imitate.