Woolly Bugger
Description
The Woolly Bugger is a simple streamer that suggests leeches, small baitfish, dragonfly nymphs, and other swimming food in rivers, ponds, and stillwaters. Its marabou tail, chenille body, and palmered hackle give it movement at slow retrieves and durability when ribbed with wire. Tie it in black as the baseline pattern, then vary color and weight to match local water.
Materials
- hook: 3X Long Streamer Hook
- thread: Black, 6/0 Thread.
- body: Black Chenille
- head: Black Head Lacquer
- tail: Black Marabou
- hackle: Black Saddle Hackle
- ribbing: Copper Ultra wire, extra small.
Tying Instructions
- 1.
Secure the hook in the vise with the shank level and start the thread two eye lengths behind the eye.
- 2.
Wrap the thread rearward in smooth turns to the bend, keeping firm tension for an even underbody.
- 3.
Tie in a clump of black marabou at the bend, about one hook shank long, and bind the butt ends forward along the shank.
- 4.
Tie in the copper wire at the bend on the far side of the hook and leave it hanging to the rear.
- 5.
Tie in the black saddle hackle by the tip at the bend with the dull side facing rearward.
- 6.
Tie in the black chenille at the bend and advance the thread to two eye lengths behind the eye.
- 7.
Wrap the chenille forward in touching turns to form a full body, then tie it off and trim the excess.
- 8.
Palmer the saddle hackle forward over the chenille in open, even turns to the front of the body.
- 9.
Counter-wrap the copper wire forward through the hackle with firm tension to protect the stem, then tie it off and trim the excess.
- 10.
Sweep stray hackle fibers rearward and build a neat thread head behind the eye.
- 11.
Whip finish and apply head cement.