Barbless Beetles

As the summer continues, those of you who fish regularly will have noticed that the bank-side foliage just seems to get denser every time you visit the water. These are ideal conditions for all sorts of insects to thrive, from small leaf-eating insects to a hoard of beetles and ants. This is prime time for all terrestrial activity on both rivers and Stillwater. We have an updated Beetle selection and an old favourite for you this week):

• Beetle Selection - We've slightly updated our most popular beetles and included them all in one selection, these patterns will cover all imitations throughout the year.
• Parachute Beetle - this is a little bit of a hybrid Beetle imitation, it has inspiration from various other flies. Tied with a foam body (like most Beetle patterns), this fly also includes a white parachute indicator, a horizontal hackle and added flash in both the body and loops on each side. 

All of the above flies can be seen in more detailed images below, and there's also a handy guide to fishing beetle/terrestrial patterns.

Read on McDuff ...

The Barbless Beetle Selection

Show Me The Beetle Selection

Why not be ready for any Beetle, with our Beetle Selection. We have created this selection of Beetles that work equally well on both rivers and stillwaters. The patterns included in the selection are:

• Coch-y-Bonddu Beetle - The classic beetle pattern, also known as the field chafer.
• Hi-Viz Beetle - A great pattern that is easy to see on those bright sunny days. Tied with a bright pink post.
• Rubber-Leg Beetle - Another great pattern that is easy to see on those bright sunny days. Tied with a red foam post and rubber legs.
• Hi-Float Foam Beetle - A beetle designed to float high in the water due to its closed-cell foam body. Tied with a red wing case.

Here we have a selection of 16 Beetles, four different patterns (as above) two each of sizes 14 & 18 (click on any image or link to view the flies in more detail).

Our Beetle Selection is now available, priced at only £20, which includes fast, free delivery to anywhere in the world. Click on any image or button to view the flies in more detail.

View Our Beetle Selection

The Parachute Beetle

 

 

Show Me The Parachute Beetle Pattern

This pattern was originally a request from a customer, who asked if we could produce it commercially. Here's what he said about it once he'd tested them for us:

"Managed to fish this beetle pattern a couple of times over the last 10 days - caught fish on each occasion! Its absolutely the best beetle pattern I’ve used - visible with the parachute and halo strips, buoyant and capable of attracting the most cautious fish. The size 18 is also good for anything ‘small and black’! Best fished under trees and bushes on windy days during the summer. One of my favourite patterns for otherwise slow days!", Peter R

Our Parachute Beetle pattern is only available as an individual fly, these are priced at £1.25 each. We have them in various sizes (to imitate a whole raft of Beetles you may encounter whilst on the water) - sizes 14, 16 & 18.

Go on you know you want to!

View Our Parachute Beetle Pattern

Top Tips When Fishing Terrestrial Patterns

In the warmer summer afternoons, a beetle pattern is an essential searching pattern, when fish are not rising.

To search a river:

1. From the bank, section the river into lanes about 3ft wide.
2. Cast upstream and make 3 or 4 drifts in the nearest lane, repeat for each lane, working away from you.
3. Step upstream and repeat the process.

To search a Stillwater:

1. From the bank, imagine a fan with 8 points laid out on the water.
2. Cast to each point of the fan 3 or 4 times, and retrieve using the "Splash & Twitch" technique (see below).
3. Move further along the bank and repeat the process.

"Splash & Twitch" Technique

With each of the searching methods mentioned above, why not give the "Splash & Twitch" technique a go. As Beetles are a land-based insects, they are regularly blown (or drop from trees) onto the water, and they are not that elegant when they do! Don't worry about perfect presentation, it is often better for the fly to splash down on the water, Keep in touch with the drift as the water brings the fly back to you and give the fly a slight twitch every now and then. You will be amazed how often this inducement will bring up a fish! Don't forget to drift the beetle under any overhanging branches.

"Dry Nymph" Technique

Most natural terrestrials start to sink after hitting the water. If your floating terrestrial pattern sinks midway through a drift, just fish it as you would a nymph. Some of the best fishing to be had on a warm summers afternoon can be by fishing sunk beetles as you would a nymph on a long leader.

View All Our Beetle Patterns

Don't Forget the Beer Mats!

Want to get your hands on a limited edition of our full set of beer mats - especially framed.

All you need to do is place an order for over £30 during August for an entry - the more orders you place over £30, the more entries you will receive. We've 3 of these to give away on the 1st September.