FLYMPH FORUM

Soft Hackle Foam Beetle
Hook - Mustad Model R50 / Size 14
Thread - 8/0 UNI-Thread (Camel Brown)
Back - 1/4" wide strip of Loco Foam (Metallic Green)
Legs (Hackle) - Hen Neck Hackle (Black / stripped on one side)
Body - Five Strands of Peacock Herl (Natural)

I will be tying some of these during my demonstration tomorrow afternoon. The hen neck feather makes for some beautifully soft & mobile legs on this pattern. Absolutely deadly looking terrestrial pattern. It pattern is certainly stretching the boundaries of the term "soft hackle", but I still think of it as a softy.

After reading Hans' recent post about the used of CDC, I am tempted to tye some of these with three black CDC feather tyed in and wrapped as the body of the fly. I think they would create a cool bubble-belly as the fly sits in the surface film. The hen hackle would then sink down into the water, seductively waving to the fish...

Looks really good Ray. If I look at it from the corner of my eye, I can see it as a Soft hackle.
Serious, great idea and tye.

Ray, Howdy;

Great lookin beetle. Better if I use 2 fingers across the upper half (joking ),
What is that little loop lookin'g thing near what would be a hip pocket...
a rip-cord to help deploy the flight facilliaters (wings) ???

hank

With a sufficient amount of shot, it will make a great cress bug, too.

Blasphemy, and heresy! Ray, you are in good company.

Mark

Mark - I figured you were posting to "show me to the door". (sheepish grin)

Hank - It's just a piece of lint left over from when I cut the foam. I laid the foam down on my tying desk and it must have stuck to it. Argh.

I should have made up some story about it being the fuzz along the backside of a beetle, like in this photo I took last summer.



But it ain't true...it's just arse lint...

I don't see a wing on it but not sure it's a wet fly-maybe a diving beetle SH.

Beautiful fly and foam!

I love fishing beetles, around here I think they're very underrated.
But, that's ok.. More fish for me!

Very nice tie btw

Nice tie Ray. A very popular pattern both here and Australia.
Here in NZ that green would be to imitate the Manuka beetle and brown foam would be to copy the Night beetle or adult form of grass grub. Both very effective on large trout early morning or late evening.

Ray, Howdy;

Sometimes ya gotta run with the ball instead of being so literal.
Would ha been great if ya had a pic of one of those beetles.
Coulda had a before and an after....

Almost said; so much like an engineer but then .......

All said in good humor..

hank