Bodkin / Patterns

Krystal Bugger

Streamer · Trout · Smallmouth Bass · Largemouth Bass · Pike · Intermediate · 5 versions

Classic Recipe

  • Hook 3XL streamer hook (Tiemco 5263 / Mustad 9672), #4-10, #4-10
  • Thread Black (or to match) 140 denier (UTC 140)

Materials

  • Weight (optional) Lead-free wire, .015-.020 (8-12 turns)
  • Tail Marabou (black, olive or white) plus a few strands pearl Krystal Flash (1 clump + 4-6 strands)
  • Rib Brassie/medium wire, silver or copper (for durability) (1 strand)
  • Body Cactus / Estaz / Ice chenille, pearl or color to match (1)
  • Hackle Grizzly (or webby saddle) Whiting Woolly Bugger hackle, color to match (1 feather)

How to tie it

  1. If weighting, wrap 8-12 turns of.015-.020 lead-free wire over the middle of the shank and lock with thread. Start the thread and cover the wire.
  2. At the bend tie in a marabou tail about one shank length long, then add a few strands of pearl Krystal Flash split to each side of the tail.
  3. Tie in a length of fine wire at the bend for the rib. Then tie in a webby saddle/Woolly Bugger hackle by the tip at the bend, shiny side forward, to be palmered later.
  4. Tie in the Cactus/Estaz chenille at the bend and wrap the thread forward to about one eye-width behind the eye.
  5. Wrap the chenille forward in touching turns to build a full sparkly body; tie off behind the eye.
  6. Palmer the hackle forward over the body in 5-6 open, evenly spaced turns and tie off behind the eye.
  7. Counter-wrap the wire rib forward through the hackle in the opposite direction in 5-6 turns to lock the hackle stem down (this makes the fly toothy-fish-proof); tie off and helicopter to break the wire.
  8. Build a neat thread head, whip finish and cement.

Substitutions

  • Body instead of Crystal Chenille: Estaz — Denser sparkle; Polar Chenille — Longer flash fibers
  • Tail instead of Marabou: Marabou + Krystal Flash — Extra flash in the tail

Other versions

4 more in the app: Hot Bead TB, Jig TB, Bead Head, BH.

Tying videos

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