Woolly Bugger

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Artificial fly fishing lure

title: "Woolly Bugger" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["streamer-patterns"] description: "Artificial fly fishing lure" topic_path: "general/streamer-patterns" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woolly_Bugger" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Artificial fly fishing lure ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox artificial fly"]

FieldValue
name
imageFile:BlackandBrownBeadheadWoollyBugger.jpg
caption#8 black and brown beadhead Woolly Bugger
typeStreamer
imitatesLarge nymphs, baitfish, leech, drowning terrestrial insects, clamworms, crayfish, shrimp or crabs
creatorRussell Blessing
created1967
othernames
variations
sizes2–12
hooktypeTMC 200R
use1
refWoolly Wisdom (1999), Soucie
::

|name = |image = File:BlackandBrownBeadheadWoollyBugger.jpg |caption = #8 black and brown beadhead Woolly Bugger |type= Streamer |imitates = Large nymphs, baitfish, leech, drowning terrestrial insects, clamworms, crayfish, shrimp or crabs |creator = Russell Blessing |created = 1967 |othernames = |variations = |sizes= 2–12 |hooktype= TMC 200R |thread = |tail = |body = |wing = |ribbing = |hackle = |head = |thorax = |legs = |bead = |use1 = |use2 = |ref= Woolly Wisdom (1999), Soucie 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. 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.

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, which itself is a variation—intentional or not—of the British palmer fly, which dates back to Walton and beyond.

Imitates

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/MoscaWoolyBugger.jpg"] ::

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.

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.

|title=Woolly Bugger Gallery |footer= |width=150 |File:Black Woolly Bugger by James Stripes.jpg| |Image:BrownBeadheadWoollyBugger.jpg| |Image:Woolly Bugger 5.JPG| |Image:PurpleAndBlackBeadHeadWoollyBugger.jpg| |Image:OliveDumbBellWoollyBugger.jpg| |Image:OliveAndWhiteDumbBellWoollyBugger.jpg| |Image:BlackandBrownBeadheadWoollyBugger.jpg| |Image:OliveRubberTailConeHeadWoollyBugger.jpg|

Notes

References

References

  1. Soucie, Gary. (2006). "Woolly Wisdom". Frank Amato Publications.
  2. Gierach, John. (2000). "Good Flies". The Lyons Press.
  3. Kreh, Lefty. (1994). "The Professionals' Favorite Flies Vol II". Oddessy Editions.
  4. Soucie, Gary. (2006). "Woolly Wisdom". Frank Amato Publications.
  5. Soucie, Gary. (2005). "Woolly Wisdom". Frank Amato Publications.
  6. Soucie, Gary. (2006). "Woolly Wisdom". Frank Amato Publications.
  7. (1984). "Lake Fishing With A Fly". Frank Amato Publications.
  8. Roberts, George V.. (1994). "A Fly Fisher's Guide To Saltwater Naturals and Their Imitation". Ragged Mountain Press.
  9. (1992). "Flies for Bass and Panfish". Northland Press Inc..
  10. Murray, Harry. (1989). "Fly Fishing For Smallmouth Bass". Nick Lyons Books.
  11. Hughes, Dave. (2002). "Taking Trout". Stackpole Books.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

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