Bodkin / Patterns

Diving Bug

Streamer · Largemouth Bass · Smallmouth Bass · Panfish · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Stinger/bass bug hook (wide gap), 2-8
  • Thread To match, e.g. yellow or olive 3/0 or 210 denier

Materials

  • Tail Yellow/olive material (Marabou plus a few strands of flash)
  • Skirt/Legs Barred rubber legs (2-3 pairs rubber legs)
  • Collar Contrasting deer hair (One stacked, swept-back collar)
  • Head Deer/elk hair (Spun and trimmed with a flat diving face and back-swept collar)

How to tie it

  1. Start thread at the bend and tie in a marabou tail with a couple strands of flash, one-plus shank length.
  2. Add 2-3 pairs of rubber legs at the tail base so they trail and kick.
  3. Stack a deer-hair collar pointing back over the tail to form the diving 'wing'.
  4. Spin bundles of deer hair forward to pack a dense head, packing each bundle tight.
  5. Trim the head to a broad, flat-faced wedge that angles down so it dives when stripped, leaving the collar swept back.
  6. Whip finish at the eye and seal the thread.

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