Woolly Bugger (Full Version)

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Mike R. -> Woolly Bugger (9/30/2008 9:27:50 AM)

This is going to be my first of many fly tying questions. I love to use woolly buggers on erie's trib. I have never tied a fly before so my first is going to be a woolly bugger. Should I weight it or not. If so with what size lead wrap? My favorite place to use them are on elk.



doubletaper -> RE: Woolly Bugger (9/30/2008 10:07:04 AM)

rule of thumb is to use the same diameter lead wire as the diameter of the hook shaft. start your lead wire just forward of the hook point and wrap forward towards the eye leaving enough room for the head.
of course in shallower water you might want to down size the wire lead so the bugger won't hang up on the bottom. ~dt



Esox_Hunter -> RE: Woolly Bugger (9/30/2008 12:38:00 PM)

It is certainly not neccessary to weight them but, I like to use as little weight on my leaders as possible.  Buggers are fairly bulky flies and it takes a good bit of weight to get them down so IMO it helps to weight them.  DT is right on that the wire should be the same diameter as the hook and I normally use .015" for 12-14 and .020" for 8-10's.  This seems to keep the profile nice and still gets enough extra weight on them.  If they are too heavy for the water you are fishing then just go down to the next size.  One more thing; if you are tying with beads I like to make my wraps of lead on the shank and slide the lead forward under the bead, the lead covers about 1/2 of the overall hook when finished with a bead.  



clinchknot -> RE: Woolly Bugger (9/30/2008 4:41:14 PM)

I agree with both of the above. You might even put a bead head on it for the lower flow days.



vinestbrew -> RE: Woolly Bugger (10/1/2008 12:44:30 AM)

The metal hour glass eyes are also nice. For both weight and looks..



Bowhunter -> RE: Woolly Bugger (10/2/2008 7:27:28 AM)

I spend a lot of time fishing streamers and weight everyone.  Now days I include a bead head on about every streamer.  I don't know if the flash helps trigger strikes, but when I run out of a color with bead heads and switch to a fly without the bead the action slows down.
I generally use the .020 on all streamers, but I like them heavy.



doubletaper -> RE: Woolly Bugger (10/2/2008 3:14:42 PM)

i have found i get just as many strikes on my olive buggers without beadheads than with them so i don't use beadheads on my olive buggers. if i find i have just as many strikes without a certain matterial, i don't add it on. i make tying as simple and as quick as possible. that's one thing that you are able to do when you tie your own. you can experiment with or without different matterials to see what works better or doesn't make much of a difference.
i weight almost all my nymphs and buggers. they're suppose to sink so why not get them down there as quick as possible the way i look at it.  



Hammer26 -> RE: Woolly Bugger (10/3/2008 9:02:44 PM)

I use .035 lead on a size 6 streamer for buggers.



fishmonger -> RE: Woolly Bugger (10/4/2008 8:05:07 AM)

I tie my wooly buggers with ostrich herl for the body. It is tough stuff. I use either marabou or fur for the tail, and a corresponding colored hackle. I rarely weight them. White and olive are my biggest producers. For a quick tie, I'll make up some estaz buggers, usually in white with a gold bead head.



surffishn -> RE: Woolly Bugger (10/5/2008 3:04:06 PM)

Mike R Are you confused yet? As you see from all the different answers there is no absolut correct way to construct a bugger.Try both and see what works for ya. 



powerun -> RE: Woolly Bugger (10/12/2008 12:36:14 AM)

here are some flashy bugger's[image]http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd344/powerun/DSCF20011.jpg[/image]



JEB -> RE: Woolly Bugger (10/23/2008 1:42:03 PM)

I never use hackle anymore, I just tie them with large crystal flash instead, still works pretty weel, plus I add a bead too.



Flyguy638 -> RE: Woolly Bugger (10/23/2008 5:18:38 PM)

Yep white bead headed whooly buggers are the ticket



dano -> RE: Woolly Bugger (10/23/2008 5:35:02 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Flyguy638

Yep white bead headed whooly buggers are the ticket


Except when they're taking black.



dano -> RE: Woolly Bugger (10/23/2008 5:53:54 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: JEB

I never use hackle anymore, I just tie them with large crystal flash instead, still works pretty weel, plus I add a bead too.


A few years ago, I was having success with a black woolly bugger drifted and swung through a tailout (an area that's now posted). 
After a few fish, the hackle's stem broke. They still took the hackless bugger well. It was one of those days where the fishing was just too easy. After catching fish after fish, I started to notice that the marabou tail was getting thinner and thinner with each battle and finally to a point where no tail was left. That darn fly with just black chenille wrapped on the shank still caught fish on the drift. I guess when they want to eat, they eat.

On another note, I tie most my buggers without added weight or beads. The way the creeks are lately with no current, weightless has been the way to go. You get better fly movement going weightless. If I'm in an area when added weight is necessary, I'll slide a splitshot up to the eye.
The ones I do weight, have enough lead to sink like the Titanic.



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