How to Tie a Foam Beetle

A wide variety of artificial flies are use by anglers when attempting to attract and catch fish. Dry, streamer, wet and nymph flies are purchased as well as tied by anglers to match the hatch for fishing. Terrestrial patterns are designed to imitate insects, such as bees, ants and beetles. A foam beetle fly is a basic fly to tie and provides often provides excellent results on a local pond or stream.

Things You'll Need

  • Size 16 fly hook
  • Fly tying vise
  • Fly tying thread
  • Closed cell foam strip
  • Yarn
  • Scissors
  • Rubber legs
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Place a size 16 fly hook in the jaws of a fly tying vise. Position the hook so the bend of the hook is in the jaws of the vise with the shank on top and hook point on the bottom.

    • 2

      Wrap fly tying thread around the shank of the hook. Begin wrapping the shank at the hook eye and work down to the bend. Work the wraps back up to the middle of the hook.

    • 3

      Place a 3 inch strip of black foam on the hook shank. Choose a strip that is 1/2 inch wide. Position one end of the foam 1/4 of the way down the shank below the hook eye with the other end of the foam extending beyond the hook bend.

    • 4

      Wrap the fly tying thread around the hook shank and end of the foam. Wrap the thread down to the hook bend and back to the middle of the hook shank.

    • 5

      Fold the foam extending beyond the bend forward onto the shank. Wrap the thread around the foam and shank. Form the wraps around the foam and shank from the middle of the hook up to the eye. Wrap the thread back to the middle of the hook shank.

    • 6

      Fold the foam back along the hook shank. Secure the foam to the hook shank with several turns of thread. Cut excess foam extending back from the wraps with sharp scissors.

    • 7

      Place a 2 inch long piece of bright colored yarn in the middle of the foam beetle. Tie the yarn in place with several turns of thread. Trim the yarn ends with scissors so they extend from the fly 1/2 inch.

    • 8

      Place rubber legs across the fly where the yarn is tied in place. Wrap the thread around the legs and tie off. Cut the thread from the bobbin with scissors.