The Coch Y Bonddu Beetle - from Barbless Flies
The classic beetle pattern, also known as the field chafer. These are an essential terrestrial in your armoury which are especially successful in August. This pattern is tied on a strong barbless hook and available in sizes 14 & 16.
In the warmer summer afternoons, a beetle pattern is an essential searching pattern when fish are not rising.
To search a river, try this technique:
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, try this technique:
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 insect, 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.
Remember, the takes are sometimes quite fierce, so pay attention!