The Woolly Bugger is an Artificial fly commonly categorized as a wet fly or streamer. 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 can be fished in streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes. The Woolly Bugger can be tied in a wide variety of styles and colors to imitate a wide range of game fish prey.

Although the original Woolly Bugger pattern was believed to have been created by a Pennsylvania fly tier 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.

Most likely the most well known pattern in the world! The Woolly Bugger is the must-begin-with fly for all.

Reciepe:

Hook: Streamer 2x long, size # 4 to 10.
Weight: Gold bead.
Thread: Black 6/0.
Tail: Black marabou feather.
Krystal Flash fibers can be added if desired.
Body: Black chenille wrapped over bare shank. Most woolly buggers are fished weighted, and thus required lead wire over shank. This is optional however to the Gold bead.
Hackle: Black saddle hackle, palmered.

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