The Bead Head Crystal Woolly Bugger
by Robin Pike
The Woolly Bugger
is a tremendously popular searching pattern that comes in a wide variety of colours
and configurations. The Bead Head Crystal Woolly Bugger is designed as
an attractor pattern that can be used to imitate a leech. Leeches are
big ticket items for trout as they can often be obtained with minimal
energy expenditures. At certain times of the year, a significant portion
of a trout's diet can be comprised of leeches. An understanding of the
life cycle of the leech is thus fundamental to effectively fish any imitative
pattern. Leeches possess flattened, segmented bodies and commonly
range in length from 1 to 6 inches. Trout tend to key on small leeches (1 to
2 inches) and therefore
pattern selection should reflect this. Leeches can be classified as scavengers
and spend most of their time near the bottom, feeding on dead animal
matter and other aquatic invertebrates. They exist in a wide variety
of colours that include solid and mottled shades of brown, black, olive
and maroon. Leeches swim through the water with an undulating motion
and effective leech patterns attempt to mimic this movement.
Fishing this Pattern
The pattern is generally fished along drop-offs using a high density line
(Type IV-V) although intermediate sink and floating lines can also be used
to fish the pattern in shallow areas. During the day use a moderate to
slow hand twist retrieve to make the fly undulate and mimic a leech's swimming
pattern. In the evenings, slow the retrieve and use frequent pauses or
try wind drifting/trolling. Sometimes anglers may encounter short strikes
when using leech patterns. This often is the result of a trout charging
the fly to make it 'ball up' (as would a real leech) thereby making it
an easy mouthful. Under these circumstances, resist the knee-jerk reaction
of 'setting the hook' and allow the fish to return to take the fly. Overall,
remember to do some exploring near the lake shore before you start to fish.
Often you'll root up a leech or two which helps take the guess work out
of proper fly selection.
MATERIALS REQUIRED:
HOOK: Tiemco Streamer or Mustad 9672 Sizes 6 - 10.
THREAD: 6/0, Black or to match body colour.
TAIL: Black and red marabou.
BODY: Medium to small black crystal chenille.
HACKLE: Black.
HEAD: Gold or copper bead (tungsten or other); sizes 5/32 - 1/8.
Tying Instructions for the Bead Head Crystal Bugger
Step 1: Slip the bead over the hook point so
that the smallest opening is nearest the hook eye. Next, select a clump
of black marabou approximately the same thickness as the diameter of
the chenille to be used. Attach the marabou to the hook as shown, ensuring
that an even sub-body is created and that the tail is the same length
as the hook.
Step 2: Select 5-10 strands of red marabou
and trim the tips by pinching and tearing between your thumbs and forefingers.
Only a little bit of red is required in this pattern so be sparse. Attach
the red marabou to both sides of the hook as shown.
Step
3: Wind the chenille clockwise to the bead head, secure with 2-3 turns
of thread and cut the excess material. Next, palmer the hackle clockwise
to the hook eye making 1-2 extra turns behind the bead to thicken the
collar. Secure the feather with 3-5 turns of tying thread and cut off
the excess material. Cover any protruding ends of the hackle feather
with your tying thread, whip finish and apply head cement.
This page and all of it's contents are the property of Robin
Pike.
Copyright 1999 - 2003.
