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Popcorn Beetle
Popcorn Beetle
Tying Instructions
1. Secure the hook to the vise and attach the thread to the hook shank behind the eye.
2. Lay a thread foundation from behind the eye to the bend of the hook.
3. Using a size 6 hook, the width of the foam strip should be about 7/16 inch.
4. Attach the end of the foam strip about 1/4 of the shank length behind the eye to the top of the shank with tight spiral wraps to the bend of the hook.
5. Attach a piece of Fl, Chartreuse Mop Chenille, some use Cactus Chenille, to the top of the hook shank near the bend of the hook.
6. Wrap the material tightly to the hook shank up to the eye of the hook.
7. Wrap the chenille forward with touching turns to just behind the eye of the hook. Secure the chenille with some tight wraps about the eye length behind the eye.
8. Trim off the tag end of the chenille and apply some additional thread wraps to secure.
9. Bring the foam over the top of the hook shank and secure the foam behind the eye with a couple of tight wraps.
10. With the tight thread wraps, the tag end of the foam will lift upwards. Now place a few thread wraps in front of the tag behind the eye.
11. Bring the tag end of the foam back to expose the eye and build a small thread head.
12. Apply a whip finish.
13. Trim off the thread and trim the tag end of the foam above the eye, leaving a small uplifted lip of foam.
The finished Popcorn Beetle.
| Materials
to Order Material, click the link |
|
|---|---|
| Hook | Gamakatsu B10S, size 6-8 |
| Thread | Veevus White GSP: 100D |
| Foam | Hareline 3mm Hi-Float Foam: White |
| Body | Hareline UV Galaxy Mop Chenille, Fl. Chartreuse |
This simple pattern is not the first foam beetle tied but it is a unique pattern to the lore of Pyramid Lake flies. Local fishing guide, Doug Ouellette, came up with this pattern in 2002 and noticed that a handful of the flies felt like the “popcorn” packaging material used in shipping. Thus, it got it’s name.
Unique Lip
What makes the pattern somewhat unique is the large lip that Doug left on the fly rather than trimming it close to the eye. It is that big lip which pushes water in front that distinguishes this pattern. The pattern has had some variations with time. Some have added a marabou tail and called the pattern a Popcorn Tadpole. Others have changed the color from White Foam/Chartreuse Chenille to Black Foam/Black Cactus Chenille and named it “Dark Lord” or Black Foam/Ruby Red Cactus Chenille and named it “Deadpool”. In all cases, the lip remains the same….big.
Streamer Presentation
The Popcorn Beetle is used with a sinking line and often with a bugger-type streamer as a dropper at Pyramid Lake. Between stripping the line, the foam body floats upwards on the pause and will travel downwards on the strip. Doug originally recommended the TMC 3761 size 6-8 as his preferred hook. However, many use the wider gap Gamakatsu B10S stinger hook today. The Chenille underbody also varies. Most commercially tied Popcorns use Cactus Chenille or Krystal Chenille, Doug preferred the Trilobal Antron Chenille, I’m using UV Mop Chenille. In all cases, a Fl. Chartreuse coloration is the important choice.
Hi Float Foam
The foam material is usually a 3mm thickness. Back when Doug first tied these, the closed foam was often used, particularly on commercially tied Popcorns. Evazote foam is a lighter foam with larger air pockets and compresses much more than closed foam. This has been a good choice for the pattern since the floatation is much better and the sides of the material lay down nicely along the edge of the hook shank. Hareline has this material available in numerous colors called “Hi Float Foam“.
Variations
Popcorn, Tadpole
| Materials
to Order Material, click the link |
|
|---|---|
| Hook | Gamakatsu B10S, size 6-8 |
| Thread | Veevus White GSP: 100D |
| Foam | Hareline 3mm Hi-Float Foam: White |
| Body | Krystal Flash Chenille, Medium, Chartreuse |
| Tail | Hareline Marabou Blood Quills: White |
Mopcorn,
| Materials
to Order Material, click the link |
|
|---|---|
| Hook | Gamakatsu B10S, size 6-8 |
| Thread | Veevus Black GSP: 100D |
| Foam | Hareline 3mm Hi-Float Foam: Black |
| Body | Krystal Flash Chenille, Medium, Chartreuse |
| Tail | Hareline UV Galaxy Mop Chenille, Fl. Chartreuse |