Backwater Beetle 

Hook:   Daiichi 1330 # 12 - 18

Thread: Black 6/0 or 8/0 Uni Thread depending on hook size

Wingcase: Pre-Sliced Black Evasote Foam (Tiewell)

Body: Black Seals Fur or any black shaggy dubbing

Hackle: Black Cock

1/ First off wrap a nice even base of thread starting from near the front of the hook and extending to the point where you are going to tie in your first part of the fly, the wing case. This point should be roughly level with the barb on the hook. Once this is completed and you have a good bed of thread proceed to step two.
2/ Now take a strip of the foam and tie in at the rear of the hook with it extending out and to the back. This not only moves it out of the way of the next step but also allows for the correct appearance of the back/wingcase that is so prominent on this particular pattern. Remove excess foam from the tie in point with scissors and add a couple of thread turns to strengthen.
3/ Next pinch off a bit of dubbing. Apply it to the thread to form a small rope. We have deliberately used this material as we want that buggy, leggy look to the fly. Apply dubbing to about a four inch section of the thread before you start to wind forward and construct the body of the fly. Remember this is a beetle pattern and we want to get the correct shape.
4/ Build up a nice body as seen in the accompanying photo with it tapering from thin at the rear to thicker in the middle and again to thin at the front of the fly. Do this by winding the rope of dubbing forward, each turn in front of the previous one adding more turns in the same plane in the middle of the fly to get the required beetle shape. Use you own judgement here adding as much as necessary to get the proportions right.
5/ The fly is almost done. Remove the excess dubbing from the thread and take the foam between the thumb and forefingers of your right hand. Pull it over the top of the body towards the thread and transfer holding it in place to your left hand. Deliberately hold it so that you form a little hump in the foam. Don't pull the foam tight. Tie in. Trim the excess foam and move to the next step.
6/ Lastly we must tie in a hackle. Find an appropriately sized feather and tie in vertically, shiny side of the feather facing forward. Wind two or three turns of hackle, tie off and trim the excess. Then pull the thread forward and add a couple of half hitches behind the hook eye. The take your scissors and remove the excess foam leaving a little stub forward of the hackle.

The Pattern

This is one of my favourites. In fact it is the only fly I would rate as equal to the Cochybondhu when fishing local backwaters. It was first tied about three seasons ago when trying to match a small black beetle that just seemed to be everywhere. Some searching about through the wholesalers product lists revealed this pre-sliced foam and an order was placed. From the moment it arrived it was clear that this was perfect foam for tying of beetle patterns. 

I tried several materials when developing this fly. However I have found Seal's Fur to work best. Make sure it is very teased out while still retaining the beetle shape. The foam should be pinched when being tied in to get a maximum amount of foam into the fly and also don't stretch it tight. No foam will float well when tied in tight, a lesson many of us had to learn on our own when first playing with foam patterns. This fly will carry the correct proportions and silhouette regardless of whether it lands on it's side or upright or whatever. The foam ensures that it floats and the hackle aside from aiding floatation also, can look for very much like the legs of the bug.  

This fly sits very low on the water. Quite often all but the wingcase is sunk in the film. Best used when stalking backwaters and the fly can be put right into the cruising trout's path. Most of the time if you do get a rejection a change down in size is all that is required. Especially if the fish really gives it a good look over. I have also had a lot of success blind fishing this fly both locally and in the North East of the state. Quite often fishing this under overhanging foliage will be successful where terrestrials are likely to be falling in. Windy days can sometimes bring good fishing although calm, humid and overcast conditions seem to be best. Also if you are going to the South island of New Zealand consider carrying a few of these as they have accounted for many good fish on recent trips there.

See you next week.

Antony, David and Geoff.