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Tying Instructions for a Hi Vis Foam Beetle Fly

Tying Instructions for a Hi Vis Foam Beetle Fly

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The hi-vis foam beetle is an effective fly pattern, especially when used for such pan fish as bream, blue gill and crappie. Featuring a body of closed-cell foam and long rubber legs, the hi-vis foam beetle is typically tied in bright colors, such as yellow and orange. Tying the hi-vis foam beetle is one of the easier types of flies to tie, requires only a few materials and can be accomplished by many newcomers to fly tying.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:
  • Fly tying vise
  • 1/4 inch wide brightly colored closed cell foam (2 inches to 3 inches long)
  • Size 16 dry fly hook
  • 6/0 fly tying thread
  • Small rubber legs (3 inches to 4 inches long)
  • Yarn (contrasting color)
  • Scissors
Step 1
Place a size 16 dry fly hook in the jaws of a fly tying vise. Position the hook so that the bend of the hook is held by the jaws and the shank is on top.
Step 2
Wrap 6/0 fly tying thread around the shank of the hook. Begin just below the eye of the hook and work your way down the shank to the bend. Wind the thread back up to the eye and repeat the process two more times. This will provide a secure base for mounting the closed-cell foam to the shank of the hook.
Step 3
Place a 1/4 inch wide strip of closed cell foam on the shank of the hook. Position one end of the foam just below the eye of the hook. The strip of foam should extend well past the bend of the hook. Wrap thread around the foam and shank of the hook. Begin wrapping just below the eye and work down to the bend and then back up.
Step 4
Place two rubber legs across the foam so they extend from either side. Secure the legs in place with several wrappings of thread.
Step 5
Fold the foam extending down past the bend of the hook up toward the eye of the hook. Wrap thread around the foam about 1/4 inch from the hook eye. This will secure the foam in place and form a head and body for the beetle.
Step 6
Place a 1-inch-long bunch of contrasting color yarn at the point where the head and body of the beetle is separated by thread to imitate wings. Secure the yarn in place with thread, tie the thread off and cut it free from the spool with a sharp pair of scissors.

Tips & Warnings

 
Trim the yarn with scissors to the desired length. Often times anglers will use brightly colored yarn to offset darker color foam patterns.

Resources

Article Written By Keith Dooley

Keith Dooley has a degree in outdoor education and sports management. He has worked as an assistant athletic director, head coach and assistant coach in various sports including football, softball and golf. Dooley has worked for various websites in the past, contributing instructional articles on a wide variety of topics.

Write for Trails.com

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