Japanese Beetle

Tied by Norm Zimmerman

Hook:               #16 dry fly such as T#100

Body:               1/8 orange craft foam

Underbody:      Peacock

Legs:               Brown hackle

Spots:              Permanent black marker

Thread:            Black—8/0

Instructions:

1. Place a #16 dry fly hook in vise.

2. Start thread behind eye and wind to hook bend.

3. Cut a ¼ strip of 1/8 orange craft foam.

4. Cut corners off one end of foam to form a tapered end.

5. Tie in the tapered end of foam at hook bend.

6. Tie in a #16 or #18 brown hackle directly in front of foam.

7. Tie in a single peacock herl in front of the hackle.

8.  Wrap the peacock herl forward to the hook eye, leaving a space of about one hook eye, and then cut it down. Cut off excess.

9. Wrap the hackle forward about 6 or 7 times, and tie it off at the same spot. Cut off  excess.

10. Pull foam over the peacock and brown hackle, and tie it down behind the hook eye.

11. Cut foam close to the tie down so that the hook eye is clear.

12.  Add black spots with the marker, and blacken the foam that remains in front of the tie down for a head. (The spots are optional because beetles in some fishing locations do not seem to have spots.)

13.  With thumb and forefinger, flatten the hackle fibers horizontally so that they flare on each side. Cut the remaining vertical hackle fibers that are on the center bottom of the beetle.

Note:   Japanese beetles are present in great numbers in late September and early October. I had a great day with this pattern in Minnesota in late September and two in Iowa in October.