FLYMPH FORUM

Thanks for those additions William & Hans. I think each of those patterns would make a great beetle imitation. They've given me a couple more ideas to play with, in addition to a few more patterns to add to my fly box. Heresy or not, I am enjoying this conversation.

William,
Your Love's Lure is a pretty fair rendition. Original pattern (or the best original I have) calls for hook of #10-14, bronze peacock body, green sword wing and black cock hackle.
The Love's, Coachman, Clock and Coch-y-bondhu were all very popular ties here as beetle imitations before the days of foam and synthetic. You may have even seen the odd use of the British "worm-fly" used by some, does not look a thing like a worm!, but could pass for a couple of beetles floating close together, something that would be very much on the cards in lower reaches of rivers that were tidal. The rising tide would wash many beetles sleeping in the tall grass at the waters edge into the stream (the brown beetle is nocturnal here).
Bronze peacock herl body and deer hair wingcase is also popular here as a beetle.

Hans, one does not truly appreciate the size of that fly until you see the photo with the ruler! Too much for my club like fingers and thumbs! Fantastic tie.

Just for fun and to get everyone searching, here is a wee list of flies that can be used to imitate beetles and were popular here before synthetics.

Dry:
Peveril o' the Peak
Coachman
Red tipped Governor
Hunt's Favourite
West Coast Beetle
Coch-y-bondhu
Loves Lure
Morris's Green Beetle and Morris's Brown Beetle.

Wet:
Bradshaw's Fancy
Black Beetle
Loves Lure (hen hackle in place of the cock hackle)
Dickinson's Beetle.

Matura Mayfly, Howdy;

Sorry but have to ask

The 2 bottom listed drys .... are they Minors or minis ?????


hank

Definatly Minors. Sort of short sqat and rotund in the body...... not box like and squarish like the mini.