Fly Tying Inventory
Hen Bugger
Cheech ties the Hen Bugger as a Woolly Bugger hack for more effective small buggers. It trades rooster hackle for a Whiting Red Label hen saddle, because hen hackle moves better and this feather has a strong taper. The fly has a brown marabou tail and a Voodoo Streamer Dub body spun in a dubbing loop. Color combinations are open, though Cheech rates this brown version highly. Tied here on a size 8 hook.
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Materials
Danville Flat Waxed Nylon 140 denier, brown (or dark brown)
Brown · 140D
Wooly Bugger Marabou, brown (or rusty brown)
Brown
Whiting Red Label Hen Saddle, brown (or grizzly dyed coachman brown)
Brown
Fulling Mill Voodoo Streamer Dub, dark brown copper UV (or brown)
Dark Brown Copper UV
How to Tie the Hen Bugger
- 1
Step 1
Clamp the hook in the vise, start the thread behind the eye, and wrap back to the bend.
- 2
Step 2
Pick a marabou feather and tie it in at the bend so the tips run back as a tail.
- 3
Step 3
Pinch the marabou tips to shorten the tail if needed, then bind the butts along the shank and trim any excess.
- 4
Step 4
Pick a hen saddle feather and tie it in by the tip at the base of the tail, with the rest of the feather pointing back over the tail.
- 5
Step 5
Form a dubbing loop at the base of the tail and hang a dubbing spinner in it.
- 6
Step 6
Bring the thread forward to just behind the eye.
- 7
Step 7
Spread the Voodoo Streamer Dub in the loop and spin it into a shaggy rope.
- 8
Step 8
Wrap the dubbing rope forward to just behind the eye, tie it off, and trim the excess. Stroke the fibers back as you go.
- 9
Step 9
Wind the hen feather forward through the body in open spirals, stroking the fibers back with each turn.
- 10
Step 10
Tie off the feather behind the eye and trim the butt end.
- 11
Step 11
Whip finish and cut the thread. Stroke the hackle and dubbing back along the body.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb5RNWva-nM
Credit: Cheech / Fly Fish Food