In addition to having a marabou tail is it correct that a Bugger have a heavily webbed palmer hackle?
I’ve noticed a lot of Buggers with dry fly quality hackles making them look like Wooly Worms with marabou tails. Please update me. Thanks.
I thought the only rule was do what you think the fish will like. Unless, you are going into the fly tying competition business like HRH.
HRH means what - thanks
Had that same question.
Mrs. Betty Hiner, Her Royal Highness, not sure who tagged her with that but it was around before I arrived here. Betty recently won a tying competition at the Cabelas in KC area.
And what you like. I tie mine with webby hackle, but if someone wants to use stiffer hackle, that’s their choice.
Regards,
Scott
Oh. Didn’t know about that (HRH thingee).
It’s kind of funny how webby or soft saddle hackle used to be so easy to get. Most saddle hackle today is almost dry fly quality.
Allan
Allan,
Hen hackle works well, although you may need more than one feather for larger buggers.
Regards,
Scott
I like using hen and use a size 14 streamer hook. I have found that hen neck will give you longer hackle than hen back.
Yes, I know. But I was generalizing and meaning the use of 1 hackle feather.
Allan
I don’t think there are any rules when it comes to Wooly Buggers. There is a lot variation in what folks call a “Wooly Bugger”.
Personally, I use a mixture of feather types depending on what I have available in the right color and size while I’m tying.
Only reason I see to use hen or webby hackle would be it unjulates better in current or when stripped. But, I’m not a fish.
On small flies I use Emu Feathers or Ostrich plumes.
Tim
There seem to be several schools of thought on the issue. One is that stiffer hackle moves more water and gets the fish’s attention. The other is that softer hackle undulates more and gets the fish’s attention. Both could be right, depending on circumstance, and how you fish the fly. (E.g. I don’t see much point in stiffer hackle if you’re fishing it dead drift under an indicator, but stripping it as a streamer might be a different story.)
I dunno. I usually use eyelash yarn. Or sometimes a dubbing brush. I try to save my feathers for streamers.
Don’t remember who posted this or where I first saw it; but, it changed the way I tie my buggers now. I add about six strands of “Flashabou” (Rainbow) and tie it into the tail and leave some extra strands hanging while completing the body and hackle. Then, I take a couple of twists to the “Flashabou” and wind it up through the body and pass it in between the hackle wraps to just behind the hook eye and tie off. When wet looks to me like a flashy minnow or something similar. Anyhoo - it accounted for my biggest trout ever about two years ago. A 28" brown between 11 and 12 pounds. Cut him loose to live another day. Tie 'em all that way now.