Indicator Dry Fly

[Lshack2]

I fished last weekend at Rim Shoals on the white. I had serveral fish come up and look and a couple that actual struck at my while Pulse indicator. I tried a few drys like a hopper pattern, beetle, and a foam club sandwich to no avail. I fished a soft hackle and crackleback with limited success as well. I thought about tying a white foam beetle with a pearl body and maybe krystal flash legs but have not found a recipe. Any ideas?

[jOrOb]

I tie a really basic foam popper using white, and I sometimes use it as an indicator. I enjoy using a big ole foam hopper as an indicator, especially when midging, so this one works well for me when they are really finicky.

Use a pretty big thin wire hook. I like #10 aberdeen hooks, but a #8 dry hook will work very well.

Tie in a basic tail. I like a water resistant tail, like feather duster bristles, but antron works pretty well too. Tie it in at the bend, and make it just a little shorter than the hook shank.

Next, cut a strip of foam about 3/8 inch wide and 2 inches long. Taper one end. Tie in the foam so that the taper ends at the tie in point. If your taper is long, you can start at the eye and wrap all the way back, just remember, you are just making a fat body. Compressed foam doesn't float.

Now you are ready for a body. I like to use antron or sparkle braid, but dubbed bodies work well too. On darker patterns, I use peacock herl. Make an even body that is not too big, but don't skimp. You need this to get wet so your fly will float upright. Stop your body about 2 to 3 eye widths from the eye. That should leave your thread at about 2 to 3 eyes from the eye.

Now, fold the foam forward and tie it down. Tie it pretty tight, you want the foam to flare. After a couple of good tight wraps to secure the foam, you can add a couple of legs to either side at this point. I like crystal flash or flashabou, but you could use rubber legs just as well. fold your excess foam back and create a head in front of it. Make it a good head so the foam will stick up when we trim it. Whip finish at this point.

Now, trim the foam in an arc so that it forms a lip. The fly should gurgle when you strip it.

This is an excellent pattern for panfish as well, and will take bass in the hot summer when junebugs are on the water. I tie it in white, green, and orange.

I use a foam fly as a hopper quite often. I am not really looking to take trout on the floater, but more like maximizing my chances. I think a big active indicator fly will bring trout to investigate, where they find a tasty morsel hanging out just 18 inches away.

I will try to find a picture to post.

[Lshack2]

Thanks jOrOb, that helps me a lot. If you could find a picture or link to post that would be great.

Larry

[Terry Beeson]

I thought about tying a white foam beetle with a pearl body and maybe krystal flash legs but have not found a recipe.

Sounds like a recipe to me...

[motroutbum]

in the orvis catalog, there is a foam indicator beetle with rubber legs that works well.