Woolly Bugger

The Woolly Bugger is an artificial fly commonly categorized as a wet fly or streamer and is fished under the water surface. It is a popular and widely used pattern for both freshwater and saltwater game fish and is generally listed as one of the top patterns to have in any fly box. John Gierach, a noted fly fishing writer discussed the Woolly Bugger first in his chapter on streamers in Good Flies.^[2] Woolly Buggers are typically fished in streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and tidal flats. Today, Woolly Buggers are tied in a wide variety of styles and colors to imitate a wide range of game fish prey.

The Woolly Bugger is so effective, it should be banned from some watersheds. I suspect its effectiveness is due to its resemblance to so many edible creatures in the water—nymphs, leeches, salamanders, or even small sculpins. Its tail undulating behind a fiber, bubble-filled body is just too much for most fish to resist. It just looks like a meal!

— Bill Hunter, The Professionals' Favorite Flies^[3]

Woolly Bugger
Artificial fly
#8 black and brown beadhead Woolly Bugger
Type	Streamer
Imitates	Large nymphs, baitfish, leech, drowning terrestrial insects, clamworms, crayfish, shrimp or crabs
History
Creator	Russell Blessing
Created	1967
Materials
Typical sizes	2–12
Typical hooks	TMC 200R
Reference(s)
Pattern references	Woolly Wisdom (1999), Soucie[1]

Origin

Although the original Woolly Bugger pattern was believed to have been created by Pennsylvania fly tyer Russell Blessing as early as 1967 to resemble a hellgrammite, or dobsonfly nymph, its precise origin is unknown, but is clearly an evolution of the Woolly Worm fly,^[4] which itself is a variation—intentional or not—of the British palmer fly, which dates back to Walton and beyond.^[5]

Imitates

The Woolly Bugger, depending the specific material used and how it is fished can be assumed to resemble large nymphs, baitfish, leech, drowning terrestrial insects, clamworms, crayfish, shrimp or crabs.^{[6][7][8][9][10][11]}

Materials

The Woolly Bugger fly is constructed with a marabou tail (with or without some sort of flashy material in the tail), a chenille or fur body, and a hackle palmered from the tail to the head of the fly. Tying the pattern with a rib of fine copper wire helps protect the palmer hackle. The underbody may be weighted with lead or tungsten wire. Popular colors are olive, brown, and black for freshwater use. Brighter colors and combinations of colors are especially popular for steelhead, salmon and saltwater use.

Variations and sizes

Woolly Bugger flies are typically tied on number 2 to 14 long or extra long hooks. Variations include Woolly Buggers weighted with brass or tungsten beads, brass or tungsten cones, brass, lead or tungsten dumbbell eyes.

Woolly Bugger Gallery

• 
  Bead-Eyed Bugger
• 
  #6 Brown Beadhead Woolly Bugger
• 
  Gierach style: Daiichi 1870 hook
• 
  #6 Purple and Black Beadhead Woolly Bugger
• 
  #6 Olive Dumbbell Eyed Woolly Bugger
• 
  #4 Olive and White Dumbbell Eyed Woolly Bugger
• 
  #6 Black and Brown Beadhead Woolly Bugger
• 
  #6 Olive Rubber Tailed Conehead Woolly Bugger

Notes

1. Soucie, Gary (2006). Woolly Wisdom. Portland, Oregon: Frank Amato Publications. pp. 112–123. ISBN 1-57188-352-5.
2. Gierach, John (2000). Good Flies. New York: The Lyons Press. p. 164. ISBN 1-58574-139-6.
3. Kreh, Lefty (1994). The Professionals' Favorite Flies Vol II. Birmingham, Alabama: Oddessy Editions. p. 41.
4. Soucie, Gary (2006). Woolly Wisdom. Portland, Oregon: Frank Amato Publications. pp. 112–13. ISBN 1-57188-352-5.
5. Soucie, Gary (2005). Woolly Wisdom. Portland, Oregon: Frank Amato Publications. ISBN 1-57188-352-5.
6. Soucie, Gary (2006). Woolly Wisdom. Portland, Oregon: Frank Amato Publications. pp. 124–125. ISBN 1-57188-352-5.
7. Cordes, Ron; Kaufmann, Randall (1984). Lake Fishing With A Fly. Portland, Oregon: Frank Amato Publications. pp. 92–93. ISBN 0936608269.
8. Roberts, George V. (1994). A Fly Fisher's Guide To Saltwater Naturals and Their Imitation. Camden, Maine: Ragged Mountain Press. p. 151. ISBN 0-07-053166-8.
9. Stewart, Dick; Allen, Farrow (1992). Flies for Bass and Panfish. Inervale, NH: Northland Press Inc. p. 58. ISBN 0-936644-10-9.
10. Murray, Harry (1989). Fly Fishing For Smallmouth Bass. New York: Nick Lyons Books. pp. 141, 155, 160. ISBN 0-941130-85-1.
11. Hughes, Dave (2002). Taking Trout. Mechanicsburg, Pa: Stackpole Books. p. 195. ISBN 0-8117-2906-0.

References

Soucie, Gary (2005). Woolly Wisdom. Portland, Oregon: Frank Amato Publications. ISBN 1-57188-352-5.