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Zug Bug
Text and photos by Steve Probasco

Like the Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear Nymph, the Zug Bug is a pattern I just couldn't leave out of this book*, even though it is included in many other books. This is one that you simply should not be without.

Materials List:

    Hook:   Daiichi 1710, sizes 6 - 16.

    Thread:   Black or olive.

    Tail:   Peacock herl.

    Body:   Peacock herl.

    Rib:   Oval silver tinsel.

    Hackle:   Furnace, sparse, tied beard-style.

    Wingcase:   Woodduck flank or turkey quill, clipped short.

Tying Instructions:

1. Tie in a short tail of peacock herl.

2. Secure a piece of oval silver tinsel and several strands of peacock herl as shown.

3. Wind herl forward to form the body.

4. Wind tinsel forward.

5. Tie in a furnace hackle in at the head.

6. Wind the hackle a couple turns pulling the fibers to the bottom of the hook and securing as a beard. Tie in a section of woodduck flank or turkey quill as shown.

7. Clip quill short forming a wingcase, finish head and cement to complete the Zug Bug.

Fishing the Zug Bug:

Fished in the same manner as the Hare's Ear Nymph, the Zug Bug generally imitates food items like mayfly and damselfly nymphs, caddis pupae, etc. One thing that contributes to the effectiveness of this fly, I'm sure, is all the peacock herl used in the tying process. ~ Steve Probasco

Credits: *This fly is from Probasco's Favorite Northwest Flies, Published by Frank Amato Publications! We thank them for use permission.

For more great flies, check out: Beginning Fly Tying, Intermediate Fly Tying and Advanced Fly Tying.