Foam Beetle
I will tying a series of flies over the next few days as samples for Willard Koukkari’s forthcoming book on food organisms I’ll feature these flies in the blog as they are dressed and photographed. Today’s feature event is Thompson’s Foam Beetle. Ken tied it both with and without hackle legs, and it works both ways. This description is for the fly with hackle legs. Simply omit the hackle of you want a faster-to-tie imitation.
Step One: Cut a strip of foam and trim one end to a point.
Step Two. Tie in the foam strip and wrap back until the thread is just onto the hook bend. Dub on the rear of the body and tie in a hackle feather.
Step Three: Dub on the thorax, wind the hackle three or four turns forward over the thorax. Secure the hackle, trim away the excess, and cut the hackle off the top of the fly. Fold the foam forward tightly along the top of the fly and tie it down securely at the head. finish the head in front of the foam strip.
Step Four: Trim the foam strip equal to the end of the hook eye to form the beetle's head. Trim the hackle off the bottom of the fly.
The Foam Beetle as seen from above.