Tying a Woolly Bugger: Your First Streamer

The Woolly Bugger is the perfect pattern to learn fly tying fundamentals.

This versatile fly catches everything from trout to bass, and it teaches essential tying techniques.

Materials

Hook: Size 6-10 streamer hook (2X-3X long) Thread: Black 3/0 (140 denier) Tail: Marabou feather (black or olive) Body: Chenille (black or olive) Hackle: Saddle hackle (black or grizzly, palmered) Weight: Lead or copper wire (optional) Head: Red thread for a “hot” head (optional)

Step-by-Step

1. Prepare the Hook

1. Place hook in vise
2. If using weight, wrap 8-10 wraps of lead wire
3. Start thread behind the eye and wrap to the bend
4. Wrap back over the wire toward the bend

2. Tie in the Tail

1. Select a marabou feather with good fibers
2. Measure tail length: same as hook shank
3. Strip away fluff from the stem tip
4. Tie in at the bend with thread wraps
5. Wrap forward to secure, leaving thread at the bend

3. Tie in the Rib/Hackle

1. Select a hackle feather with fibers equal to hook gap
2. Strip off the fluff at the base
3. Tie in by the stem at the bend
4. Important: The shiny side faces you (concave side toward the hook)

4. Tie in the Body Chenille

1. Tie in the chenille at the bend
2. Wrap thread forward to the ¾ point on the shank
3. Leave the thread here - you’ll need it later

5. Wrap the Body

1. Wrap chenille forward in tight, touching turns
2. Stop where you left your thread (¾ point)
3. Tie off and trim excess

6. Palmer the Hackle

1. Grasp the hackle with hackle pliers
2. Wrap forward through the chenille body
3. Make 4-6 evenly spaced wraps
4. Key: Keep the fibers swept back as you wrap
5. Tie off at the front (where your thread is waiting)

6. Form the Head

1. Wrap thread to create a small, neat head
2. Whip finish or make a half-hitch knot
3. Apply head cement (optional)

Pro Tips

Marabou Selection

Choose marabou with:

• Long, flowing fibers
• Good stem flexibility
• Minimal webbing in the fibers

Hackle Choice

For Woolly Buggers:

• Saddle hackle is easier to work with than neck hackle
• Look for fibers equal to hook gap
• Soft, webby hackle creates more movement

Body Options

• Standard chenille: Durable, easy to work with
• Ultra chenille: Smaller diameter for small hooks
• Dubbing: Creates a buggy profile

Color Variations

Classic combinations:

• Black/Black: The original
• Olive/Olive: Excellent all-around
• Black/Grizzly: Classic attractor
• Purple/Black: Great for stillwater
• White/White: Excellent for baitfish patterns

Weighting

• Unweighted: Top of water column
• Lead wire underbody: Medium depth
• Lead eyes + bead: Deep water

Common Problems

Tail too short or too long: Measure against the hook shank.

Hackle fibers not flowing back: Keep them swept back as you wrap.

Body too bulky: Don’t use too much chenille - thinner is better.

Head too large: Keep thread wraps minimal and neat.

Variations to Try

Once you master the basic pattern:

1. Beadhead Woolly Bugger: Add a gold or brass bead
2. Crystal Bugger: Add Flashabou in the tail
3. Articulated Bugger: Two hooks for larger predators
4. Bugger nymph: No hackle, weighted for deep fishing

Practice Exercise

Tie 6 Woolly Buggers:

• 3 in black
• 3 in olive

Focus on:

• Even body wraps
• Consistent tail length
• Well-spaced hackle wraps
• Neat, small heads

Fishing the Woolly Bugger

This fly is effective because:

• Marabou moves incredibly well in water
• Hackle provides lifelike action
• Profile suggests everything from leeches to baitfish

Retrieve tips:

• Slow strip with pauses
• Vary your retrieve speed
• Let it sink deep
• Work it near structure

The Woolly Bugger will catch fish anywhere, anytime. Master this pattern and you’ll always have confidence in your fly box.