What sounds in the reeds...

What sounds in the reeds...

 by Kuba Chruszczewski

                  Terrestrial insects sometimes become fish food in situations when they appear in the water in sufficient numbers to induce fish to feed. This is the case, for example, during the mass appearance of beetles - the May beetle, the chestnut beetle, or the similar but noticeably smaller redwing gunia. When the wind knocks the beetles off coastal trees, chub, trout, ide and other fish begin to take an interest in them. It is then worth trying to fish on a dry fly imitating such an insect. Here's how to make a good floating beetle imitation using readily available materials:

Photo 1. Dry fly hook, a shape cut from a sheet of polyethylene foam.         

Photo 2. I attach the foam to the shaft of the hook - beforehand, wrap the shaft with thread and apply some glue.

Photo 3. I tie 4-5 rays of peacock feather and some flash.     

Photo 4. I twist the peacock and flash with the leading thread and wind the fluffy, rather thick trunk. I press the whole thing slightly to the left.      

 Photo 5. I tie a few rays detached from the ostrich feather.I cut off the rays leaving the ends, those on the side of the stack, with characteristic „claws”. 

 Photos 6, 7. I bend forward the foam and fix in the place of tying the legs. In the same place from the top I tie a piece of bright foam - it will help in locating the fly on the surface of the water in poor visibility conditions.

Photo 8: I wind several coils of peacock rays. I tie the foam just before the eye of the hook.

Photo 9: Foam beetles.