How to Tie Flies for Missouri Trout

Fishing for Missouri trout is an activity that can be enjoyed alone or with family and friends. Missouri trout are abundant in the Ozarks and several state parks, but to catch these fish you will need to learn how to tie a fly. The most common flies for catching Missouri trout is the Wooly Bugger. This fly is perfect for lakes, where most Missouri trout live, but can also be used to fish in rivers with a smaller hook.

Things You'll Need

  • Vise
  • Streamer hook, size 6, 7 or 8
  • Olive thread
  • Saddle hackle tying material
  • Olive marabou feathers
  • Olive Wooly Bugger chenille
  • Fine copper wire
  • Lead-free wire
  • Wire cutters
  • Scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Secure the streamer hook in the vise to hold in position while you tie the Wooly Bugger.

    • 2

      Wrap the hook shank in wire. With the wire still on the spool, start wrapping the wire tightly around the straight part of the hook, from the hook barb end to the hook eye, leaving space at each end of the hook. The tail of the wire should be toward the hook eye end of the hook.

    • 3

      Measure a small bunch of marabou feathers and cut them twice the length as the hook shank. Hold the feathers on the hook, with the clipped end near the hook eye end and the tail falling off the end of the hook barb. Wrap thread through the hook eye, around the marabou and down the hook shank. Continue wrapping back up through the hook eye to secure it in place.

    • 4

      Cut a 3-inch piece of chenille and place it on the hook shank, with one end flush with the other material near the hook eye. Wrap the thread around the chenille to the end of the hook shank to secure it in place. Do not cut the chenille.

    • 5

      Place the hackle on the hook shank, with one end flush with the other material near the hook eye. Wrap the thread around the hackle to the hook eye and loop it through the hook eye to secure it in place. Do not cut the hackle.

    • 6

      Attach the copper wire. Cut a 3-inch piece of copper wire and place one end flush with the other material near the hook eye. Wrap the thread around the wire down the hook shank to secure it in place. Do not cut the copper wire.

    • 7

      Wrap the chenille up the hook shank to about three-fourths the length. Follow the chenille with thread, wrapping around the hook shank and the chenille to the hook eye. Tie off the thread and cut off any extra thread and chenille.

    • 8

      Brush the fibers of the hackle backwards with your fingers, making the feathers stick out. Carefully and evenly wrap the hackle clockwise up the hook shank, keeping the feathers sticking out. At three-fourths up the hook shank, tie the hackle off with thread and clip any extra thread and hackle.

    • 9

      Wrap the copper wire up the hook shank counterclockwise, keeping the hackle feathers up as much as possible. Tie the wire around the tip of the hook shank, right under the eye, and clip any excess copper wire.

    • 10

      Whip finish the tie.