Fly Pattern: Dressy Bugger


              Tyer's Name: Cathy Van Ruhan
              Date: September 5, 2011

    Fly Originator and History: This is Cathy's variation of the wooly bugger, 
    designed by Russell Blessing. It's tied in many colors: black, brown, olive are 
    most common. The marabou tail and palmered hackle are important. It can be weighted 
    or unweighted, tied with a bead head or dumbbell eyes or plain head.

                                How the Fly is Fished
    Suggested line and leader: Intermediate or sinking line, 8' tapered leader.
    Depth: On or near the bottom, structure or near vegetation.
    Suggested retrieve: Slow leach like retrieve with pauses and occasional twitches.
    Comments: Wooly  bugger flies have a natural buggy appearance and are of sufficient 
    size to appeal to fish.

                                Fly Material
    Hook size /length / make: 2 to 14,  3XL-4XL, TMC 9395 or equivalent
    Thread: size / color / type: 6/0 black Uni
    Weighted y/n / size: Optional.
    Tail material / size / color: Marabou , green (2 or 3 feathers)
    Body size/color/material:  Wool yarn or cotton embroidery thread (should be 
    about the thickness of the shank), light green and dark green (try other colors too).
    Hackle size / color: Black wooly bugger hackle
    Other: See below on how to build the Dressy Bugger's body

                                Tying Steps
    1. Lay down a thread base from the eye to a point just above the barb (we'll
    call it the "bend"). If extra weight is desired, tie in weighted wire alone each 
    side of the shank.

    2. Preen 2 or 3 marabou feathers and tie in so they extend 1 to 1-1/2 times the 
    length of the shank. Tie down the marabou from the bend to about a 1/4-inch behind 
    the eye, and return the thread to the bend. Trim any excess marabou stems. 

    3. Tie in the body threads on the sides if they are bulky. (Use two colors of 
    wool, metallic braid or floss.)

    4. At the bend, tie a hackle feather by the tip. Trim any excess.

    5. Run the thread forward, secure with 2 or 3 half hitches (or a whip finish), 
    and cut off the thread.

    NOTE: For the following step, you can make the body by using Cathy's choice 
    which is the 'cast on' technique (see below), or the 'woven body' technique 
   (follow this link:  http://opff.org/a_woven-bodies.php ).

    6. Form the body with the lighter color on the bottom. Complete the body about  
    1/4 inch from  the eye. Re-attach thread and tie the body down.

    7. Wrap the hackle forward, doing an extra wrap just behind the eye 
    (avoid crowding the eye).

    8. Whip finish, and add a drop of glue.


                    Rick Shadforth/Cathy Van Ruhan 11/27/11