Jungle Beetle Tied by Norm Cribbin Materials Hook: Black Magic H14 Thread: Black 10/0 Unbreakable Thread & 8/0 Brown Uni-Thread Body: Clipped Dyed Black Texas Whitetail Deer Wing: Jungle Cock Nail with UV Cure resin cover Legs: Olive Barred Sili-Legs Thorax: Peacock SLF
The “Jungle Beetle”
Method Step 1 – Select a suitably sized Jungle Cock nail. Apply a small amount of UV cure resin over the enamelled section of the nail, taking care not to allow the resin onto the feather section below the enamel or onto the hairs above. Note: Split nails are suitable as they can be repaired using the UV Cure resin. Step 2 – Vice the hook and apply Black 10/0 Unbreakable thread mid shank, winding back to the bend of the hook. Select a small clump of deer hair and spin onto the shank and pack to the rear of the hook. Apply a second clump of deer hair, spin and pack. Whip Finish off the thread and trim.
Jungle Beetle
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October 2016
Step 3 – Shape the spun deer hair to form a beetle shape body. The underneath side should be trimmed flat to provide adequate bite in the gap. The leading edge of the body should be trimmed to provide a slight taper. Trimming is best facilitated by the use of curved scissors and sharp blade. I personally remove the hook from the vice to aid in forming a correctly shaped body.
Step 4 – Re-mount the hook in the vice. Take the 8/0 Brown Uni-Thread and secure the previously prepared Jungle cock nail. The nail should be secured such that it sits over the clipped deer hair body. The securing thread wraps should only compress the fibre section of the feather.
Step 5 – Take (2) two barred Sili-Legs and trap one each side of the hook shank. Apply some tacky wax to the thread and then dub on a small quantity of SLF to form a small but distinct thorax. Whip finish behind the eye.
Jungle Beetle
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October 2016
Step 6 – Trim the Sili-Legs to the desired length, making any final adjustment to the legs prior to trimming. Apply head cement to the thread. The finished fly…
The small hatch of beetles… Photos by Norm Cribbin The original pattern tied by Davie McPhail.
Jungle Beetle
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October 2016