Tying Scott Sanchez's Mega Beetle (terrestrial fly pattern)

From Scott Sanchez's "A New Generation of Trout Flies" published in 2005, the Mega Beetle is a great choice when the fish have seen enough hoppers and are even being turned off by them.
Hook: #8-14 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
** Some of the popular books used on this channel: **
Fly Pattern Encyclopedia: amzn.to/34U0rUe
Mike Valla's "Tying the Founding Flies," 2015, amzn.to/354oSir
Valla's "Tying and Fishing Bucktails..." 2016, amzn.to/3Jg2Mys
Valla's "Tying Catskill-Style Dry Flies," 2020, amzn.to/3DmYOjJ
Valla's "Classic Streamer Fly Box," 2020, amzn.to/3n3Vakf
Dave Hughes, "Essential Trout Flies," 2017, amzn.to/3lbCZYX
Hughes, "Nymphs for Streams and Stillwaters," amzn.to/3HC2jpc
Hughes, "Wet Flies," 2015, amzn.to/33ac3lQ
David Klausmeyer's "Favorite Flies," 2020, amzn.to/3oeSNMa
Randle Scott Stetzer's "Flies, the Best One Thousand," amzn.to/34Q15mp
Terry Hellekson's "Popular Fly Patterns," 1976, amzn.to/2L4IyvS
Dick Stewart's, "Flies for Bass and Panfish," 1992, amzn.to/3aGpFs1
Savage Flies is a project with the mission of encouraging and teaching fly tying to as many people as possible. The channel is named after one of my western Maryland homewaters, the Savage River. Thanks for stopping by.

[@rollinlapoint4554]

Excellent! I'm finding the warm temperatures in the summer are causing the fish to rise and dry flies(top water) have been a lot more productive. Terrestrials everywhere!! 🐟🐟🐟

[@SavageFlies]

Outstanding to hear Rollin! I can't wait to get back out on the water with my terrestrial box here in a couple of weeks. :-)

[@richardjones2129]

Nice buggie looking terrestrial beetle, Matt. I remember the 1st time I fished a terrestrial pattern n the tailwalking I experienced hooked me for life on these patterns. Thanks for sharing this pattern. You simplify it and explain the details clearly. God Bless n Fish on!

[@leemowers9395]

Thanks Matt for another new Fly. Another new floating thing.

[@SavageFlies]

Absolutely Lee! I appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@ybarrajc]

Definitely going in my box. Thanks for sharing Matt.

[@garrettswoodworx1873]

Excellent addition to the box! Thanks Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Garrett! I appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@joshriston706]

Beatles are a conference pattern for me. Thanks for another great video.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Josh! I appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@jimgollach6202]

Pretty neat Matt! I definitely enjoyed watching and learning more different techniques. Thanks 👍.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Jim! I appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@crowdaddy8355]

Awesome beetle pattern. I’ve got to put a few of these in my box. Thanks Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Chad! I appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@DonohoeDSc]

Thanks Matt, another great pattern (along with your Ant pattern) to have handy for the summer months on those clear central PA streams/rivers.

[@SavageFlies]

Absolutely, and here in Maryland too! I appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@Jd-yc3gw]

Good morning Matt. ☕️time. Different beetle pattern for sure. Something that large should attract fish from a distance and I’m thinking it would make a little noise landing on the water. Going to tie a few of these to try later this summer and into the fall. Just got another fly box so I will have some room for a little while. 😄. Time for more ☕️. Take care and have a great week Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it John! I just got back from a work trip to an Army base in Oklahoma. Fun stuff, but good to be back home. :-)

[@johnnylightning1491]

I like it Matt. A little behind right now I was racing all weekend and then the dentist played drilling for $$ in my mouth today. I can see a few color variations on this one. I actually saw some tan beetles last week when I was plating some flowers. Keep the good stuff coming buddy.

[@SavageFlies]

That's pretty cool Dave! I can't recall seeing tan beetles but I'm sure we've got some down here too. I see all kinds of green and blue metallic looking ones in my garden here. Of course, the black ones do seem to outnumber all the rest, but they are definitely some interesting insects.

[@edwardmlotkiewicz2343]

Large beetles are common in Florida. I would tie this for panfish and small bass. Thanks for another great video and fly.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Ed! I appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@bigdaddy99929]

Great looking beetle. Thx Matt!

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Clyde! I appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@MyItalians]

Morning Matt. Love the quote.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Nich! I appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@pc5439]

Good looking attractant fly Matt, I always save any foam material I come across, you never know what kind of unique creature fly pattern you can come up with, including different color kitchen shelf liner that are easier to match their color schemes with markers. Thanks for for weekly instructional videos Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

Great note Phil! I've seen one guy who ties ant patterns with those shelf liners. They're already shaped like the bodies. Cool stuff. You've reminded me that I want to try one of them soon. :-)

[@burtonbrocious171]

Thks matt for an interesting pattern something for pressured waters 😊

[@SavageFlies]

Yes indeed Burt! I appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@tompeterson559]

Good looking pattern! Thank you!

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Tom! I appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@RustyWillet]

Cool looking pattern,👍

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Rusty! I appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@laytonmarvin3790]

Awesome pattern, I absolutely know this will catch fish. Thanks, Matt, for sharing, and have a wonderful week.

[@harryjoesather6539]

Looks like a fun one thanks matt.

[@martyrothman3933]

Thank you Matt I appreciate you

[@SavageFlies]

You're most welcome Marty! I appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@joutdoorsmen23]

That’s a good looking bug Matt

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks! I appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@marshallbaldwin8960]

Very cool big beetle pattern. Thank you Sir Matt

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Marshall! Have a great weekend my friend. :-)

[@jimholland1592]

Good morning Matt, Nice bug☕️☕️

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks! I just got back from Oklahoma tonight. 100 degrees out there and it felt like every bit of it. Still 94 degrees when the sun went down at 9pm. It was crazy! But it's good to be back to the more moderate weather here in Maryland. Hope you have a great weekend!

[@chevyguy6510]

Great tie Matt!! Could have used this one in the Smokies last week.

[@SavageFlies]

Absolutely Todd! I was there in April and started seeing a few ants. No big beetles or hoppers but I'm sure they're all over the place now. :-)

[@markfritch3168]

Thanks Matt! Beetles are fun patterns to play with. The effectiveness of terrestrials certainly have a spot in my arsenal. Warmest regards

[@SavageFlies]

Absolutely Mark! I appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@tubbyguyoutdoors]

Cool indeed ! Thanks for sharing

[@SavageFlies]

You bet! I appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@davehall2160]

Gorgeous looking fly, Matt Definitely need some of these in my box. Have you ever thought about caterpillars, maybe a big fuzzy one Thanks for the video, Matt

[@SavageFlies]

I have Dave! And I saw some big ones on the trails on the Savage a couple weeks ago. I really do want to try some out soon. Thanks for the reminder. :-)

[@kenb4685]

Nice beetle fly Matt. You must have a fantastic collection on tying flies, I have all of four fly tying books, your selections are so interesting.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Ken! And yeah, I've got way more books than I could ever need. I'm just a sucker for an fly tying books. :-)

[@joeduca8582]

Yeah beetles of all sizes are out now. How about those "Mormon" crickets swarming in Nevada, not really a cricket but a katydid, still freaky. I don't know if the hackle is necessary, but coming from Sanchez it could be the key to open the fish's mouth when other patterns are stale. Thanks for the fun pattern Matt. You're sporting a cool summer outfit too. Say, how's the Snakehead fishing going? Thanks!

[@SavageFlies]

Oh man... snakeheads! I haven't taken the kayak out yet this year. I just got back from a work trip to Oklahoma and was talking with a guy who did a lot of kayak fishing out there. It inspired me to get off my butt and get back out there. Maybe I'll see if I can sneak out one morning here soon. Have a great weekend!

[@joeduca8582]

@@SavageFlies You too! 🐍🎣👍

[@edwardchavez5627]

Good Morning Sir Matt, The Mega Beetle is absolutely amazing and that grizzly hackle for me is the kicker. I'm so excited to try this after work. On another note , me living in Texas and fishing warm waters have you ever worked with dubbing brushes for bait fish patterns or jig patterns for crappie? Any suggestions you have on patterns would be greatly appreciated. Have a great rest of your week Sir Matt and thank you again, I can't believe it's been 3 years. Congratulations

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Edward, and yes! I can't believe it's been that long either. As for dubbing brushes, I've never made any but check out Brian Wise's channel (fly fishing the Ozarks), I think he's done a few big streamers with brushes. Okay, don't think I've forgotten that today is your birthday. So happy birthday my friend! I didn't get a chance to dedicate something special for you today, as I've been on travel for work all week and just got back this evening. But I did at least remember so I'll take a little credit for that my friend. I hope you had a great one!

[@edwardchavez5627]

@@SavageFlies yes Sir and no worries, I'm on my way to Irvine Texas Friday at 5am we are going to visit with my wife's family and visit her cousin who been on a ventilator since January (covid) also 27 years of Marriage July 7th. Have a great 4th of July my friend CHEERS 🥂

[@mhanson4972]

Nice! 👍🏻

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Mark! I appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@ghart91]

I love to fish Beetles. Hey Matt have you used a hole punch to cut out little round indicators?

[@SavageFlies]

Oh man, I have not! But I have a single hole, hole punch in my bench drawer for making holes in material bags so I can hang them on hooks. Now I'm going to grab it and see how it works with some 1mm foam. That could be a great way to make indicators. And they'd certainly be uniform. Thanks for the tip!

[@ghart91]

@@SavageFlies Let me know after you try what you think.

[@FlyTyer1948]

That looks like a good pattern, maybe a bit more spider looking than beetle, but why not?

[@SavageFlies]

I kind of agree with you Bob. It definitely was reminiscent of those multi-packs of panfish flies you find at any Walmart around. But like you say, why not?

[@howardmceachern6614]

I just have to echo @pc5439. Those are my exact thoughts. Love the bow tie.

[@SavageFlies]

Well thank you Howard! I appreciate it my friend. :-)