How to Fly-Tie a Wooly Bugger

The wooly bugger fly is highly effective for fishing on lakes and rivers, although its smaller hook is better suited for fast-flowing currents in clear water conditions. This fly entices strikes because of likeness to various forage sources for gamefish. A streamer pattern, this fly imitates damsel nymphs, crawfish, dragonfly nymphs, leeches and many other aquatic invertebrates. Learn how to tie your own and play with different sizes and colors to match the hatch of your local fishing grounds.

Things You'll Need

  • Vise
  • Streamer hook, size 6 to 8
  • Olive uni thread, size 8/0
  • Saddle hackle
  • Olive marabou for tail
  • Olive chenille
  • Fine copper wire
  • Lead wire
  • Fly tying scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the hook in the vise and secure it into position. Wrap a small strip of lead-free wire onto the hook shank. Leave sufficient space in the tail and head areas.

    • 2

      Clip a bunch of marabou feathers above the hook barb. Make the tail as long as the hook shank. Tie the feathers down and wrap the tag ends to the hook shank so that the entire hook shank is covered.

    • 3

      Wrap the thread up to the hook eye and tie in a three-inch chenille. Cover the chenille with thread up to the point above the barb.

    • 4

      Tie the tip of the olive hackle above the barb, then wrap the thread up to the hook eye's back.

    • 5

      Repeat wrapping the thread to the back of the hook eye with a three-inch fine copper wire.

    • 6

      Wrap the chenille up the length of the hook shank to the three-quarter mark on the hook. Secure with thread and clip off.

    • 7

      Stroke the hackle fibers backward, then wrap it forward up the hook shank's length. Tie off at the three-quarters mark with the thread and snip off the excess.

    • 8

      Thread the copper wire up the hook shank in the opposite direction of the hackle wrap. This secures the hackle.

    • 9

      Make a small head with the thread for the fly. Whip finish, then cement the head completely.