Michigan Flies

Flies / Terrestrial

XO Beetle (Foam Beetle)

A

Current Works lists the XO Beetle and Tar Baby and suggests beetles as a dropper behind a visible pattern, since black beetles are hard to see. Michigan charts run beetles June 1 to September 30; fish it under overhanging trees, log jams and undercut banks on the Au Sable where RiverReports says black beetles produce.

#12–16BlackPeacockBlack with orange indicatorclear watermiddayafternoon
What the pattern looks like
Reference photos of the XO Beetle (Foam Beetle) tied by others, shared by their photographers. Not our flies; our own product photos replace these as they are shot.

Photo © Quinn for Fly Deal Flies, used with permission · Foam Beetle

  • Photo © Quinn for Fly Deal Flies, used with permission · Beetle

Season
Months this pattern is in play across Michigan, derived from what it imitates.
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec
Imitates

Forage

  • Beetle
  • Japanese beetle
Fish it for
Brown troutBrook troutRainbow trout (resident)

Setups

  • Dry fly

Sources