White Over Chartreuse Beetle
By Elaine Cook
Our club has a large group going on the Pyramid Lake fishout this year. It is a special fishery that includes ladder fishing with a beetle pattern that is fished under water. Ask our very experienced fishmasters Jim Hall and John Steele how to rig the ladder for fishing these flies.
Hook: TMC 2487 size 6
Thread: 3/0 white
Tail: white marabou
Overbody: white 2mm closed cell foam (obtain from a hobby/craft shop like Beverly's, or you may find it as packing cushion sheets)
Underbody: chartreuse cactus chenille
1. Crimp barb.
2. Attach thread behind eye and wrap to above hook barb.
3. Tie in clump of marabou equal to about twice hook length, extending to rear of hook.
4. Cut foam in the shape shown on the diagram.
5. Place tapered end on top of shank with square end out over rear of shank. Tie in tapered end a little bit behind the eye.
6. With thread, wrap foam snugly to top of shank leaving thread at rear of shank. Foam should be over-wrapped back to the tie in place for the tail.
7. Tie in chenille and wrap thread forward to eye.
8. Wrap chenille forward, each wrap against the last, stroking fibers backward with each wrap, to one eye length behind the eye. Tie off and cut excess chenille.
9. Pull foam forward, snug to shank, and tie down behind eye with several firm thread wraps.
10. Whip finish over foam tie-down wraps and cut thread.
11. Cut excess foam off, leaving approximately 1/8 inch in front of the whip finish wraps.