Tri-County Fly Fishers

 

Tyer -- George Shillington
The Bead-Head Woolly Bugger is a very versatile sub-surface pattern that will take many different fish species. It can be tied using several colors.  The number 10 black wooly bugger represents 80% of the freshwater fish that I have caught in this area. I use a sinking tip line with three to four feet of monofilament tippet six-pound test on a three-weight rod. A moderate retrieve is usually the most productive.
Materials:
Thread: Danville’s 210 denier flat waxed nylon
Hook: Mustad 79580 or 9672 sizes 8-12
Tail: Strung marabou – black)
Body: Chenille -- pearl chenille, black, fine
Hackle: One Indian rooster saddle
Lead Wire: 0.020
Bead:
Hook Size
Gold Bead
# Wraps Lead Wire
 
4
3/16
11
 
6
3/16
10
 
8
5/32
9
 
10
1/8
8
 
12
3/32
7
For Hook Mustad 79580 size #10:
1. Mash down barb.
2. Sharpen hook so it catches easily on fingernail.
3. Put bead (1/8” brass) on hook small opening towards hook eye.
4. Wrap thread base on hook to bend of hook.
5. Put eight wraps of 0.020 lead wire leaving space about 1/16” from the wire to the bead which is against the eye of the hook.

6. Wrap thread forward to secure lead wire and then wrap back to bend of the hook.
7. Cut marabou to the same length as the hook.
8. Secure marabou to the shank at the bend with the thread.
9. Prepare saddle hackle by combing (with a moustache brush) web, freeing each piece of hackle.
10. Wrap end of saddle hackle with thread.
11. Wrap end of chenille with thread.
12. Secure these wraps with a dab of cement.
13. Wrap thread forward.  Build up shank between the lead wire and the bead to the diameter of the lead wire.
14. Wind chenille forward forming the body and tie off behind the bead and trim.
15. Wind the hackle forward, Palmer style, around the hook shank and through the chenille body.
16. Tie off behind the bead and trim hackle.
17. Whip finish, cement.

 

 

 

Bead-Head Woolly Bugger