Beetles - Size and Color Preferences

[Letort]

Tying up some beetles to use this summer on spring creeks. I have tied with foam in the past, but focused on deer for now. Most commercially tied beetles seem to be black or green. Studying images of PA beetles, they come in many different shades, especially brown. So I tied up some in natural deer and dyed black and green.

For the abdomen, I have spun deer hair and trimmed and also used some straggle legs, which add movement and color. Shellback is deer with head trimmed in rounded form. I think I may experiment with mixing different color of deer hair when I stack it for a mottled color. A lot of the natural beetles have many colors. Also tied a couple in size 12, most in 14 thought. Also added rubber legs for movement. Real beetles have generally 6 legs, but I have been tying in 4.

Anyway, what is your favorite beetle make up? Anyone venture into other colors?

 

[GoldenRfly]

Black foam with peacock hurl body has worked great for me in sizes 10-14. I’ve opted for 10’s & 12’s on 2xl Nymph or Streamer hooks lately. These were my first confidence flies and easy to tie.

I also really like Crowe Beetles (black deer hair) to plop by bushes. They ride lower and often illicit a quick response. Usually in a size 12 or 14.

I like yellow sighters on both.

 

[dryflyguy]

I like black deer hair, with an underbody of peacock herl

Sizes - I tie them in size #12 - #20, with smaller sizes used in low clear water

 

[Bamboozle]

Going on my theory that terrestrials are an opportunistic, not a hatch mating meal for trout that they won't pass up if presented properly, forever I have tied only one size beetle, a 16.

The same goes for crickets, ants, inchworms & bees, the other terrestrials I fish with regularity, I only tie one size which is a 16 for everything but ants.

As far as colors & styles go, I've tied a few beetles in brown & green in the past and even a few smaller red "Ladybugs" & "Lightning Bugs." However, to be honest a size 16 black beetle tied with foam and using peacock black Ice Dub for a body is all I need. I've been tying nothing but for decades.

No legs, no sighters; just foam & Ice Dub.

 

[poopdeck]

All foam. Black foam, foam with green foil, cream foam and sharpie markers, and brown foam. With legs, without legs, but never lively legs. Peacock herl, organza, dubbing, it’s all in play. Some with a sighter some without. I’m not picky about beetles and tie them however I’m feeling at the time. They all seem to work as well as the next. I tie them in 12 and 14 but largely fish the 12’s.

 

[Prospector]

Good advice in the preceding posts. I use the Crowe Beetles style (black deer hair). I like sz 12 and my presentation is done via the roll cast. A hearty “plop” on entry from the roll cast seems to garner the most strikes. I use sz 10, 12, 14.

 

[ntallen]

In the interest of keeping foam bulk down, I really like to use a couple puffs of cdc for a wing/post.

I can’t see ants or beetles whatsoever unless I have a fat puff coming off of the head.

 

[wildtrout2]

In the interest of keeping foam bulk down, I really like to use a couple puffs of cdc for a wing/post.

I can’t see ants or beetles whatsoever unless I have a fat puff coming off of the head.

It's why I go with a parachute, really helps with visability, and the trout don't seem to mind.

 

[Bamboozle]

It's why I go with a parachute, really helps with visability, and the trout don't seem to mind.

First off, you should make sure your beetles land with a pronounced splat...

I accomplish that by tying a basic foam & dubbing beetle with a lack of other accoutrements to soften the landing. I also fish them using a lighter tippet and a harder than normal delivery, low to the surface that is checked so the beetle flips over hard.

IF your beetles land with a pronounced splat, being able to see them is really overrated.

Watch stuff floating by in the water to determine the flow rate. Cast your beetle, watch for the splat and guesstimate where your beetle is based on the flow and if you see a rise ANYWHERE close, set the hook.

In all honestly, MOST of the time like Prospector said...

...A hearty “plop” on entry from the roll cast seems to garner the most strikes...

If I am "prospecting" and sneaking up on fish correctly, most of my strikes are less than 12" from the splat which makes it even easier to not worry if I can't see it. FWIW - I don't think I've seen a beetle since George H.W Bush was in office...

If you are anti-sighters/hot spots on your flies like me, try some foil backed foam instead of plain foam.

I have been using Billy Skilton's "foil" foam for the back of my beetles for several decades and luckily have a lifetime supply because Bill has been out of the "foam business" for a long time.

I use a peacock green and an orange version of his foam because when done, it results in a beetle pattern with an iridescence that looks a lot like a real Japanese Beetle. A non-intended benefit to these foil foam beetles is they reflect light upwards like a little mirror and are almost IMPOSSIBLE to lose on the water, especially if you saw the "splat" when it landed.

Chocklett's Loco Foam from Hareline in the colors "Northern Lights" and "Orange" is VERY similar to the stuff Bill made and redily avalable.

It's a bit easier for me because I only tie beetles in size 16, but I made a plastic "pattern" for the foam part from old milk carton plastic. I cut the required number of foam pieces for a batch IN ADVANCE with final shaping done AFTER I tie off the foam at the head using a pair of toe nail clippers.

To each his own in regards to pattens, but INCLUDING the pre-cutting and final shaping, I can EASILY tie a dozen of my beetles in about 20 minutes which is great considering how great they float, how durable they are and how the fish love them.

 

[beadhead2]

I use to tie and use a coffee bean beetle

 

[Bamboozle]

I use to tie and use a coffee bean beetle

I knew someone who tied a pot seed ant (seriously).

Not quite the same buzz as a coffee bean, but the tie-dyed trout loved them... 😉