Beetles (Coleoptera)
Another good option for later summer fly fishing, beetles are another terrestrial common to the blue-ribbon trout waters around Bozeman, Montana eat when available. Some include the mountain pine beetle, the boreal carrion beetle, the blister beetle, among others.
Beetle patterns are most often used on our guided fly fishing trips when working picky trout feeding along gentle seams next to the river bank. Using an oversized beetle imitation as an indicator fly on a dry/dropper rig is a stealth alternative to using a hopper or attractor dry.
Beetles come in many sizes and colors, but most common are black, dark brown, green, and sometimes blue.
Unlike mayflies, caddis, and stoneflies, beetles like ants are not hydrophobic, so they don’t float well. You’ll have the best luck fishing a beetle that’s partially submerged. Adding a bit of weight to float the fly in the surface film or even a little lower can be deadly.
If you’re still not getting strikes, varying your size, color, or depth to see what the trout are keying in on most.
Fish these close to grassy, bushy, or tree-covered shoreline, but don’t forget to try a few cast towards the middle of the river with a nice beetle pattern as well.
Essential Beetle Patterns For Fly Fishing in Montana
