The WoollyBugger

Woolly Bugger and Montana Nymph


We've worked with hackle, we've worked with chenille, let's take it another step. Each step we take adds to our skills and expands our knowledge of fly tying. The Woolly Bugger and Montana Nymph will continue that trend.

The woolly bugger is often used as a streamer, but tied in the right sizes and colors, it makes a great crayfish, dragonfly nymph, egg cluster, salmon flesh or leech imitation. It's the one fly that has probably hooked more big fish and more species of fish than any other. Because it looks so edible to the fish, it consistently fools trout, bass, salmon, pike and walleyes, not to mention a host of panfish and saltwater species. You'll want to have a variety of these fish catching morsels in your fly box at all times. Add black, gold and copper beads to the head for a swimming action the fish can't resist.

List of materials:


Hook: Streamer 2xlong; Eagle Claw L058, Tiemco 5263, Mustad 9672, Daiichi 1720.


Tail: Marabou - Black, olive, brown or any other color desired.


Body: Chenille, any color you wish, but black, orange, brown and olive are most common.


Hackle: Saddle or neck, saddle is preferred. Color to match the body if desired.


Thread: 3/0, color to match body or black.


Rib: Wire (gold, silver or copper).

Tying steps:

1. Tie a small bunch of marabou to the hook, length approximately the same as the hook shank.


2. Tie in a ribbing wire.



Thanks Again to Al Campbell and his great program.

Ron