Foam Beetle Pattern

[Rabmax]

This is a pattern i have never used but would like to tie some up for next season.Can someone suggest a pattern or two that's fairly easy & they find works well on rivers.When i had a google i saw this one http://www.riverflybox.co.uk/Foambeetle.html & others with rubber legs & some with parachutes.Also not sure about what foam i should use i have some Plastazote blocks.But i am thinking it would be better to buy a few foam sheets & wondering if this is the proper stuff. http://goo.gl/EfSl6

[johnsd]

Don't know if the A4 sheets are the right stuff but what i do know is they sell packs of 10 or 12 in different colors  in poundland for surprisingly a pound.Cheers John

[Rabmax]

I will have to have another look in my local poundland have looked before but maybe my local poundland doesn't stock it.Cheers

[Traditionalist]

You can get good foam here;

http://www.fly-fishing-tackle.co.uk/acatalog/fly_tying_foam.html

This works well;

http://www.swedneckflyfishing.com/foambeetle_steps.htm

TL
MC

[scotfly]

http://www.johnlewis.com/230859408/Product.aspx?source=63258 

[Rabmax]

Hello all tied a few up using some foam strips cut from a Veniards plastazote block.And the results testing them in a glass of water is.

http://www.riverflybox.co.uk/Foambeetle.html
This one looks very prone to tipping on to its side.

http://www.swedneckflyfishing.com/foambeetle_steps.htm
This one is a little better but still looks prone to tipping over onto its side.

I also tied one with a parachute wing & its stable as i thought it would be as it has a parachute wing.
But what about the first two have i tied them wrong or are these Beetles prone to tipping over.
None float very well without gink & when ginked up they still float very low is this normal or is my plastizote blocks crap.Cheers All

[Wildfisher]

http://www.johnlewis.com/230859408/Product.aspx?source=63258 

a fiver for 40 sheets eh?

Is it not better going to Lakeland and paying 3 quid for one wee bit? Assuming they have it in stock of course. 

[Wildfisher]

In fact I see a huge business opportunity here.  :

Buy from John Lewis @ 40 sheets for a fiver.

Repackage and sell.  I can see it now "Wildfisher GT *   Foam"  special international fly-life color  selections only  3 quid / packet.


Yes, it's a winner!   :


* GT = (General Terrestrial)

[haresear]

I also tied one with a parachute wing & its stable as i thought it would be as it has a parachute wing.
But what about the first two have i tied them wrong or are these Beetles prone to tipping over.
None float very well without gink & when ginked up they still float very low is this normal or is my plastizote blocks crap.Cheers All

I wouldn't worry too much about the beetles sitting low in the water as the naturals will too. The same applies to them landing upside down, although you obviously would prefer the sighting post to be sitting upright.

I tie a couple of versions. One with the craft foam sheets doubled and glued, with rubber legs added.

The other is similar to your second link. I use palmered emu feather (any thick fibred feather would do) and clipped top and bottom so that you get a similar effect to the parachute. I don't use a sighting post so that if it lands upside down, my confidence isn't too dented.

Alex

[Rabmax]

I think i will use this one for faster water where i want to see it. http://www.wildfisher.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=10475.0
And some ones without the sight er & parachute for slower water where i should have a better chance of seeing the beetle or the take.Also found out that cheap foam pipe insulation floats better than plastazote . Cheers all