I’ve always had great luck with mini-buggers in both warm and cold water. It’s time for me to restock a couple of very empty rows in various fly boxes. My problem with mini-bugger is finding hackle that is webby enough, long enough to complete the fly, and small enough to use for sizes #12 and #14. I’ve sometimes even had to resort using dry fly saddle hackle which, of course, fails in the webby, good motion in the water category. I’ve never been very happy with the two or three feather method because the results look so darn ragged. All suggestions and ideas would be greatly appreciated. 8T
Eight Thumbs,
I tied size 12 buggers with saddle hackle only.
Here is a Quote; “The hackle used should also be of the highest quality, flexible and not prone to break anywhere along its length when wound very tightly. Saddles are usually the best, but even inferior saddles can have brittle hackles, especially ones that were improperly or cheaply bleached and dyed or came from chickens who didn’t know their role in the proper construction of the perfect woolly bugger.”
Doug P.S. You have a PM.
I usually use Chinese Neck hackles for WBs. However, on the saddle capes I have, layered behind the feathers that are good for dries are feathers that are all web. I often use these for soft hackles on 12s and 14s and they are perfect for that size. If you buy your saddles in capes, then check them.
I want to thank everyone who offered their advice on hackle. I will probably try all the suggestions except the one that would give me a feather perfectly suited for size #14 mini-buggers----call Denny. I just promised my wife that I wouldn’t buy any more fly tying material for the next couple of months if she would go easy on her Macy’s credit card. I’d love to give Denny a call but unfortunately I am a man of his word. But if I could get someone else to call … No that would be wrong! I think I will definitely try some emu and my old Chinese necks and saddles. Thanks again for your help. 8T
I like the Whiting hen (not rooster) saddle hackle. It is longer than others I have (such as Conranch hen saddle hackle) and has a long sweet spot. Seems to be about perfect for the sizes you mentioned. If you want real subtle hackling, strip off one side before wrapping. It tip tie at the rear of the hook and wrap forward.
Last Friday I had the same problem while replacing flies in Gretchen’s/my fly boxes and ended up using hen cap feathers. As you already know, they were much too short so I ended up placing palmered hackle over the front half of the body only. This past weekend we didn’t find any fish that seemed to care one bit that the Bugger’s body only had hackle on the front half. You might try it and see if it works for you. Take care & …
Once again, Hello All and thank you for the suggestions,
I sat down last night and tied a dozen black mini-bugger which combined the suggestions from a lot of people. I’ve checked over my saddles and capes and still lack the webby, long feathers for a size #12 or #14 mini bugger, in fact even hackling a size #10 would be a challenge. My feathers seem most appropriate for #8 and larger. SOOOOOO, I did my own version bi-bugger suggested by Doug and Al’s front-hackled bugger. I used a very small dry-fly hackle (about #16-18 hackle) on the back two thirds of the fly for bugginess and webby hen hackle on the front third for motion. The dry-fly hackle didn’t extend past the gap of the hook and the hen hackle over topped the middle dry-fly hackle nicely for about half the body. I like this fly a lot and will try it out soon if South Carolina ever gets any water.
Pete, I will definitely check out the Whiting hen saddle. You’ve got a great home page. Doug was kind enough suggest going there for further information. Gurgle Pops rule!
Joe and Blue Dun, I’m working on becoming more dishonest. I’m beginning to think that it wouldn’t hurt to call Tom or Denny and just do a little pricing of hen saddles. In the excitement of the call whose to say what might happen.
I’m pretty pleased with my bi-buggers. Thanks again for all the assistance. 8T
That’s part of the reason I started tying tiny leech patterns instead of mini-buggers. The other part of the reason is durability. I tie mini-leeches on 12-14 hooks with a dubbing brush and seal fur. Nice and buggy, with lots of action in the water and almost indestructable. They are my top producers in the spring.
I just bought a Whiting Farms Bugger Pack from Bob Mariotts in Fullerton, CA. They are perfect for tying small buggers in sizes 8 through 14 and plenty long enough for that single feather fly you want. They come in all colors, I bought a grizzly dyed one and was impressed with the length. I know what you mean by the hassle of tying with two hackles. Give them a try, I think this is what your looking for.
Another vote here for hen hackle (good stuff no the chines stuff). I learned a fly called a soft hackle wooley worm. I tie it on 12 and 14 it fished like a bugger. Tail is a clump of rabbit fur not wool like the traditional fly. Body is an antron dubbing blend. Which use brush to meld into the hackle. TO tie the fly properly you use 2 feather per fly…after the tail tie in the smaller hackle dub half the body palmer the hackle forward…tie in the front hackle…dub front half…plamer fron hackle…tie off then brush…This pattern I learn from a Rich Osthoff book…worked great this past summer.
I’m suprised that no one mentioned Hareline Wooly Bugger hackles. The most feathers for the money with the size to tie many different size flies.
I can tie three or more size 16 flies with one feather.
Funny I do the same thing with eztaz bigger chartreuse up front and smaller black in back over maribou. It is a fly that is in the book trout flies of the east. Tied by jim hester.
I had a small crack in my honesty combined with a moment of weakness yesterday. Several people spoke so highly of Hareline Bugger Packs, both here and by PM, that I ordered a couple just to see if I shared their enthusiasm. I have already justified this momentary slip with the excuse that I too am “going easy” on fly tying materials (thanks BlueDun).
I really do like the Bi-Buggers (gosh, that sounds so gay) that I tied with the small dry fly hackle at the rear and larger, webby hen hackle toward the eye. The Hareline Packs just received such rave reviews, I had to try them. Thanks again to everyone who has suggested solutions to the short hackle problem. 8T
