I don't think there is a fly fisher who has not fished the "Woolly Bugger". This fly that was created by Russell Blessing of Pennsylvania is probably recognized everywhere in the world, and has accounted for more fish than any other fly pattern. The effectiveness of the "bugger" can be attributed to the marabou tail, which every bugger has. This material comes alive in the water and will draw strikes even from lazy fish. Other materials vary on this fly. Bodies from various types of chenille, dubbings, along with wire or tinsel ribs. Some are weighted with lead wire, cone heads and bead heads, and a host of colors. These flies represent a lot of various forms of fish food. Bait-fish, hellgramites, nymphs, and leeches to name a few.
Woolly Buggers are tied on hooks ranging in size from 4 to 8, with some perhaps bigger and some in size 10. I would think size 8 to be the most common size used. I have started tying these in sizes 14 and 16..."mini buggers". The material list is pretty much the same accept for the colors of the marabou tails. Mustad 9671 nymph hooks are used with a peacock body. The hackle is black or grizzly and there is a brass bead. I think these mini buggers will have a good chance at taking trout from small streams, especially brook trout in winter.
Black mini bugger with gray tail.
Black mini bugger with olive tail.
Black mini bugger with black tail. I believe the black and the olive are the most popular color combinations. The flies are tied on #14 hooks.
A black mini bugger tied on a #16 hook.
Those are beauties and I have no doubt they will entice many a brook trout this coming winter. They probably will work well on any stream or river. Very nice job.
ReplyDeleteTROUTI
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Pete I tried them on my local blugills and they enjoyed them. Can't wait to try them on some brookies.
check out http://www.richosthoff.com/
ReplyDeleteHe uses rabbit for the tail, a thick body and soft hackle fairly thick. I love a dark Grizzly one in 16.
Anonymous
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Scott I checked the site and the fly. I can see why it's one of his favorites... killer fly.
I use something very similar when all else fails and they have made a dour day into a good day on a few occasions, keep up the good work, always pop in for a read.
ReplyDeleteregards George @ the flee & float
George
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I appreciate hearing from your side of the pond.
I enjoy your site.
Those buggers are fish catchers for sure. I have found that smallmouth bass like them too. A very versatile fly.
ReplyDeleteGetting some nice rain here tonight, Alan. I got chased off the stream, but was happy to trade the thunderstorm and the needed rain for fishing tonight. Regards, Sam
Parachute Adams
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Sam the bugger is so versatile.
I've heard some reports of 3+ inches of rain in various areas, a good event. While driving to the reservoir yesterday I noticed some small streams coming back to life. Now if could only turn the oven off.
I've been tying similar looking mini buggers for awhile now. I love to fish them in the fall for browns. Nice buggy critters.
ReplyDeleteHoward Levett
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Howard fall is spawning time for brown trout and I could see an aggressive brown trying to destroy a bugger.
The mini buggers you tied are great, I tie a sz. 14 in a white mini with white chenille and grizzly hackle,white tail,the grizzly is a great contrast too the white body. I am always amazed how mr blessing changed one material on a woolly worm and it became iconic. Oh the art of simplicity. Alan, I would think those would be killers on your brook trout streams. The other small streamer that works is a white mini marabou ,white wing, an Ed shenk Classic, he has caught many very large trout on that fly . Thanks for the post .
ReplyDeleteBrad Basehore
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Brad that one little change was massive in the fly's ability...again simplicity. I check out a site on the flies of Ed Shenk and I saw that fly, and what it produced. He was also a fan of the "Skater" a Hewett fly.
Alan, mini buggers are absolutely fantastic small stream tools. This year, I dont think I fished a better fly - a few others were consistently good... but the olive and grizzly mini bugger was the smoke show of flies in small streams this year. I always poo pooed them for small water, and that's fully changed. They are absolutely fantastic. i think it's because they trigger fish for many reasons. They look like everything all at once. Just a special fly for sure.
ReplyDeleteHibernation
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Will that's good to hear. I saw on a site they were good for winter trout on small streams, and now I got first hand conformation. Olive and Grizzly is best.
No fly box should be without a bugger. Regardless of size.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest smallmouth to date came on a black size 6 bugger. It was when I started fly fishing, too.
Justin Carf
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Justin, I agree. The fly is a great starting point for young and new fly anglers...they catch fish.
For a simplified bugger, just use wool yarn in place of both chenille and hackle. Tease the fibers out with velcro or just wait for the trout teeth to do it for you. My standard is a size 12 1XL nymph hook. So far, a black yarn / black marabou tail combo in various sizes has caught over 50 different species of fish!
ReplyDeleteChris Stewart
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Chris the yarn sounds suitable for a body. Peacock can get shredded quickly from those tiny teeth.
Over my last several outings the olive tail- grizzly hackle bugger has come out on top.