Yes, I normally do weight them at least a little, and you will see I use quite a heavy wire hook. I do however like some unweighted for those times in winter on the still-waters, when you find fish cruising just above a layer of weed, or in shallow water, and you want to pull a big shiny morsel like this slowly past their noses without worrying about it sinking beneath them and snagging. In these cases an unweighted fly, wet with saliva for just a little weight, does the job perfectly.
I love to tie my own flys , but I am a Novice, I was wondering if you have a list of materials used please? Great fly by the way, you make it look so simple !
Sure thing. Woolly Buggers can be tied with a variety of different body materials and ribbing. But the hackle and marabou tail remain a constant .
Materials:
Tail: Marabou in a colour of your choice. I added red flashabou above, but you can skip that,
Body: Chenille, or dubbing, or yarn, or peacock herl. Pictured here is a “sparkle chenille”
Rib: Copper wire, or round tinsel, or as pictured , Vinyl rib…either way it must be strong enough to bind the hackle down firmly
Hackle: most low grade Indian cape hackles, or saddle hackles, in colours of your choice, will be just fine.
This fly is a very good one to begin with. The only part you could find a challenge to start with, is holding the hackle in place after having wound it, and just before you get going with the rib to hold it down. A trick is to clamp it in place by grabbing the whole fly body and hackle between forefinger and thumb of one hand, and then start winding the rib with the other.
Good luck with your tying!
I just wanted to let you know that I had joined a small tying club at my local water. It has improved my tying no end. Once I knew how to use the Rotary whip finisher , I was away ! I have no fears now , and tie with complete confidence. Thank you
7 Responses
The beloved Woolly Bugger! Curious, I didn’t see you put any weight on. Do you do this sometimes?
Yes, I normally do weight them at least a little, and you will see I use quite a heavy wire hook. I do however like some unweighted for those times in winter on the still-waters, when you find fish cruising just above a layer of weed, or in shallow water, and you want to pull a big shiny morsel like this slowly past their noses without worrying about it sinking beneath them and snagging. In these cases an unweighted fly, wet with saliva for just a little weight, does the job perfectly.
I love to tie my own flys , but I am a Novice, I was wondering if you have a list of materials used please? Great fly by the way, you make it look so simple !
Sure thing. Woolly Buggers can be tied with a variety of different body materials and ribbing. But the hackle and marabou tail remain a constant .
Materials:
Tail: Marabou in a colour of your choice. I added red flashabou above, but you can skip that,
Body: Chenille, or dubbing, or yarn, or peacock herl. Pictured here is a “sparkle chenille”
Rib: Copper wire, or round tinsel, or as pictured , Vinyl rib…either way it must be strong enough to bind the hackle down firmly
Hackle: most low grade Indian cape hackles, or saddle hackles, in colours of your choice, will be just fine.
This fly is a very good one to begin with. The only part you could find a challenge to start with, is holding the hackle in place after having wound it, and just before you get going with the rib to hold it down. A trick is to clamp it in place by grabbing the whole fly body and hackle between forefinger and thumb of one hand, and then start winding the rib with the other.
Good luck with your tying!
Sir
thank you so much for an in-depth list as requested…I shall be watching this space.
Regards
I just wanted to let you know that I had joined a small tying club at my local water. It has improved my tying no end. Once I knew how to use the Rotary whip finisher , I was away ! I have no fears now , and tie with complete confidence. Thank you
Great to hear! Well done. A tying club is a great idea. You can learn on Youtube, but is just not the same as getting together.