Woolly Bugger

<h2 id="origin">Origin</h2>
<p>Although the original Woolly Bugger pattern was believed to have been created by Pennsylvania <a href="/facts/Fly_tyer/6nY7zkBn">fly tyer</a> Russell Blessing as early as 1967 to resemble a hellgrammite, or <a href="/facts/Dobsonfly/UuIlQMPd">dobsonfly</a> nymph, its precise origin is unknown, but is clearly an evolution of the <a href="/facts/Woolly_Worm_(imitation)/JDUg2h93">Woolly Worm</a> fly,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> which itself is a variation—intentional or not—of the British palmer fly, which dates back to Walton and beyond.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a>
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<h2 id="imitates">Imitates</h2>

<p>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.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a>
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<h2 id="materials">Materials</h2>
<p>The Woolly Bugger fly is constructed with a <a href="/facts/Marabou_stork/SFqhcNdz">marabou</a> tail (with or without some sort of flashy material in the tail), a <a href="/facts/Chenille_fabric/DuLnzyzB">chenille</a> or fur body, and a <a href="/facts/Hackle/ukfSsllz">hackle</a> 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.
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<h2 id="variations-and-sizes">Variations and sizes</h2>
<p>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.
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Woolly Bugger Gallery
<h2 id="notes">Notes</h2>

<p>Soucie, Gary (2005). <i>Woolly Wisdom</i>. Portland, Oregon: Frank Amato Publications. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 1-57188-352-5.
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<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>Gierach, John (2000). Good Flies. New York: The Lyons Press. p. 164. ISBN 1-58574-139-6. <a href="1-58574-139-6" target="_blank">1-58574-139-6</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>Kreh, Lefty (1994). The Professionals' Favorite Flies Vol II. Birmingham, Alabama: Oddessy Editions. p. 41. <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>Soucie, Gary (2006). Woolly Wisdom. Portland, Oregon: Frank Amato Publications. pp. 112–13. ISBN 1-57188-352-5. <a href="1-57188-352-5" target="_blank">1-57188-352-5</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>Soucie, Gary (2005). Woolly Wisdom. Portland, Oregon: Frank Amato Publications. ISBN 1-57188-352-5. <a href="1-57188-352-5" target="_blank">1-57188-352-5</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:5"><p>Soucie, Gary (2006). Woolly Wisdom. Portland, Oregon: Frank Amato Publications. pp. 124–125. ISBN 1-57188-352-5. <a href="1-57188-352-5" target="_blank">1-57188-352-5</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:6"><p>Cordes, Ron; Kaufmann, Randall (1984). Lake Fishing With A Fly. Portland, Oregon: Frank Amato Publications. pp. 92–93. ISBN 0936608269. <a href="0936608269" target="_blank">0936608269</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:7"><p>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. <a href="0-07-053166-8" target="_blank">0-07-053166-8</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:8"><p>Stewart, Dick; Allen, Farrow (1992). Flies for Bass and Panfish. Inervale, NH: Northland Press Inc. p. 58. ISBN 0-936644-10-9. <a href="0-936644-10-9" target="_blank">0-936644-10-9</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:9"><p>Murray, Harry (1989). Fly Fishing For Smallmouth Bass. New York: Nick Lyons Books. pp. 141, 155, 160. ISBN 0-941130-85-1. <a href="0-941130-85-1" target="_blank">0-941130-85-1</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:10"><p>Hughes, Dave (2002). Taking Trout. Mechanicsburg, Pa: Stackpole Books. p. 195. ISBN 0-8117-2906-0. <a href="0-8117-2906-0" target="_blank">0-8117-2906-0</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Woolly Bugger open-in-new

Woolly Bugger