Fly Tying Inventory
Leetle Beetle
Leetle Beetle is a small foam beetle from Cheech, made to fill the gap for smaller terrestrials in a summer box. It strips down some techniques from the Unsinkabeetle into a fly that is simple to tie and durable. A foam shell sits over a dubbed underbody, with rubber legs and a small golden yellow foam indicator. Black is the most effective color, with olive/brown and tan also good. Tie it in a range of sizes and colors for anything that eats beetles, including trout, bass, carp and sunfish. Tied here on a size 12 hook.
Ready to tie this?
This pattern needs 7 materials. Sign up free to check which ones you already own.
Materials
Firehole Sticks 618 Foam & Nymph hook, size 12
12
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon Thread, 70 denier, black
Black · 70 denier
Wapsi Round Rubber Legs, black, small
Black · Small
Rainy's Cross-Link Sheet Foam, golden yellow, 1 mm, for the indicator
Golden Yellow · 1 mm
Thin glue, for the thread wraps
How to Tie the Leetle Beetle
- 1
Step 1
Start the thread behind the hook eye and lay a thread base back to the bend.
- 2
Step 2
Cut a strip of foam. Tie it on top of the shank and bind it back to the bend so the long end of the strip sticks out past the bend.
- 3
Step 3
Dub the thread with the hare's mask dubbing and wrap the rear of the shank to form the underbody.
- 4
Step 4
Pull the foam forward over the dubbing and tie it down firmly where the abdomen should end. This wrap becomes the waist of the beetle.
- 5
Step 5
Dub the front of the shank in the same way, ahead of the waist.
- 6
Step 6
Pull the foam forward over the dubbing and tie it down just behind the hook eye.
- 7
Step 7
Fold the foam back over itself and tie it down at the waist to form a small head. Trim the excess foam close.
- 8
Step 8
Tie a length of round rubber along each side at the waist so one end points forward and the other points back. Trim the legs to length.
- 9
Step 9
Cut a thin strip of yellow foam, tie it on top at the waist and trim it short for the indicator.
- 10
Step 10
Whip finish at the waist.
- 11
Step 11
Turn the fly over and add a small drop of thin glue to the thread wraps.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW-oX8wgTIc
Credit: Cheech / Fly Fish Food