Post by Charlie Dickson on Jul 22, 2008 12:44:42 GMT -5
As usual, I went out this past weekend for the trico hatch. As luck would have it, the water was lower than usual, the temperature was higher than usual, the creek was weedier than usual and the fish were spookier than usual. All this came together to make one crappie morning of trico fishing. As I was walking back to the car I happened to notice these little basterds clinging to just about every plant I could see.
I took a look in my box and could only find black foam beetles. I managed a few spookie fish and decided to cut my losses, head home and get ready for another day. Below is the version of the Japanese beetle I tied up. Not my pattern but they do work well.
Hook: Size 12 standard dry fly.
Thread: Black or olive.
Shell: C opper Swiss straw and 2mm black foam.
Under body: Peacock herl
Wings: Kreinik 1/8 inch Metallic flat braid – Mallard.
Note: The Kreinik flat braid is available at most craft stores.
Start by attaching some thread to a standard size 12 dry fly hook.
Completely cover the shank of the hook with thread.
Tie in some copper colored Swiss straw.
Next tie in a piece of foam between ¼ to 1/8 inches wide.
Now tie in some peacock herl, rap it over the back 2/3rds of the shank and tie it off.
Pull the foam over the top of the hook shank and tie it off just in front of the peacock herl.
Next cut off a piece of the metallic flat braid and tie it in on top of the fly as shown.
Break the flat braid apart with a needle.
Separate the flat braid into two equal portions and pull them down on either side of the fly as shown.
Pull the Swiss straw over the foam and tie it down.
Cut off the exess foam and Swiss straw leaving enough to represent the beetles head.
Whip finish and cut off thread.
Top view of the finished beetle.
Bottom view.
I took a look in my box and could only find black foam beetles. I managed a few spookie fish and decided to cut my losses, head home and get ready for another day. Below is the version of the Japanese beetle I tied up. Not my pattern but they do work well.
Hook: Size 12 standard dry fly.
Thread: Black or olive.
Shell: C opper Swiss straw and 2mm black foam.
Under body: Peacock herl
Wings: Kreinik 1/8 inch Metallic flat braid – Mallard.
Note: The Kreinik flat braid is available at most craft stores.
Start by attaching some thread to a standard size 12 dry fly hook.
Completely cover the shank of the hook with thread.
Tie in some copper colored Swiss straw.
Next tie in a piece of foam between ¼ to 1/8 inches wide.
Now tie in some peacock herl, rap it over the back 2/3rds of the shank and tie it off.
Pull the foam over the top of the hook shank and tie it off just in front of the peacock herl.
Next cut off a piece of the metallic flat braid and tie it in on top of the fly as shown.
Break the flat braid apart with a needle.
Separate the flat braid into two equal portions and pull them down on either side of the fly as shown.
Pull the Swiss straw over the foam and tie it down.
Cut off the exess foam and Swiss straw leaving enough to represent the beetles head.
Whip finish and cut off thread.
Top view of the finished beetle.
Bottom view.