E.T. Beetle

E.T. Beetle
Recipe: 

Hook:  Tiemco 100 #12

Thread: Ultra Thread 70d/Black

Body: 1/8” Evazote Foam in Black covered with Ice Dub Shimmer Sheer in Olive.

Underbody: 4-6 Strands of Peacock Herl

Legs: Two small rubber legs on each side cut to one Inch long and then split.

Post: Fl. Chartreuse Egg Yarn (Adjust amount of yarn to suit your needs.)

Step 1: Place hook in vise and wrap thread to just behind the hook point.

Step 2: Cut a piece of evazote foam approximately 5/16" wide. Trim a piece of Ice Dub Shimmer Sheer approximately 5/16" wide and place on top of the evazote foam. Trim the foam/shimmer sheer to a slight point and tie in with the shimmer sheer facing down. Wrap the thread back to the tie in point.

Step 3: Tie in the peacock herl and apply a thin layer of brush-on super glue to the foam where we will wrap the herl forward.

Step 4: Wind the peacock herl forward and tie off. I like to twist the strands together to form a rope and the wind forward.

Step 5: Bring the foam forward and tie off with a few loose wraps followed by a few tighter wraps. Trim the head to the desired shape. 

Step 6: Tie in the rubber legs on each side of the fly. I like to place one side and secure with a wrap, then place the other. Split the pair of legs on each side of the fly so that you have four legs on each side.

Step 7: Tie in the egg yarn post and trim to size. The color of the yarn can be changed to suit your taste.

This beetle pattern has served me well over the years. It floats high in the water and is easy to see in low or high light conditions. Wild trout seem to go crazy for it. It is a great pattern for any watershed where the fish are feeding on terrestrials.