Tied by Matt O'Neal of Savage Flies on YouTube
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This version of the Mega Beetle is tied by Matt O’Neal of Savage Flies and comes from Scott Sanchez’s 2005 book, A New Generation of Trout Flies. True to its name, this is a big terrestrial pattern. Sanchez is known for creative and often outsized flies, and the Mega Beetle fits right in.
In the book, Sanchez makes an observation that’s stuck with many tyers:
“Fish don't have as much problem eating a size 10 beetle as the angler has fishing it. Big beetles can attract fish from a distance.”
While the Mega Beetle can be effective throughout the season, Sanchez especially recommends it late in the year, when fish have grown wary of the usual grasshopper patterns. The oversized profile and contrast of this beetle offer something different—something they haven’t already been duped by.
It’s a high-floating, high-visibility pattern that’s ideal for late-summer bankside action, windy days, or anywhere beetles are likely to tumble into the drift.
Materials
- Hook: #14-8 dry fly
- Thread: Black
- Underbody: Synthetic sparkle dubbing, dark colored
- Body: 2mm black foam
- Legs: Black rubber
- Indicator: 2mm foam, any bright color
- Hackle: Grizzly dyed brown, green or olive
