Paul's October 2021 Bonus Fly of the Month

 Squirrel & Herl Bugger

Hook:  Daiichi 710 Size #8 3X long Streamer Hook.

Bead:  (Optional) Tungsten bead.

Tying Thread:   UTC 140 Denier Black Thread.

Body:  3-4 Strands of Peacock Herl.

Wing:  Olive Pine Squirrel Zonker.

Hackle:  Grizzly Died Olive Bugger Saddle Hackle.

Collar:  (Optional)  Olive Ice Dub.

 

This is yet another streamer type fly tied with ‘Pine Squirrel’.  I love small streamers!  And I love small streamers with Pine Squirrel!  This pattern is simply a cross between two great trout flies, a Wooly Bugger & a Zonker.  It’s just got to be a fish magnet.

 

To begin this fly, place your hook in the vice.  Start your thread an eye length behind the eye.  After making securing wraps and cutting off the butt end of your thread, tie in 3-4 strands of Peacock Herl.  Keep the Peacock Herl on top of the hook shank and wrap back to the bend of the hook.  Next, prepare your Pine Squirrel Zonker.  Measure you Zonker on top of the hook shank.  You’re going to tie it in at the bend with the tail being a hook shank length beyond the bend.  When you tie it in separate the wing hairs on the hide.  Tie in the Zonker at the separation point on the hide with 4-5 strong thread wraps.  Advance your thread in front of the Zonker.  Next, make touching wraps with your Peacock Herl up the hook shank and behind your tying thread.  When you reach your initial tie in point, secure the Peacock with 3-4 turns of your tying thread.  Clip the butt ends of the Peacock.  Now, select a Grizzly Bugger Saddle Hackle and tie it in at your initial tie in point.  Using open spiral wraps, advance your thread to where your Zonker is tied onto the hook shank.  Grab the Saddle Hackle by the tip with your hackle pliers.  Make open spiral wraps (palmer) down to your tying thread.  When you get to the back of the body, secure your hackle with your tying thread.  Then, make open spiral wraps with your tying thread all the way up to the hook eye.  Clip off the tip of your excess Saddle Hackle.  Now, grab your front Saddle Hackle fibers with your fingers and sweep them back.  Make thread wraps in front of them.  Pull your Squirrel Zonker Strip forward, making sure it lays flat on top of the hook shank.  You are going to tie it in behind the hook eye, again separating the wing fibers to expose a nice tie in point on the hide.  After it’s tied down, pull the Zonker Strip back and clip off the excess.  Finally, produce a nice neat head on the fly and apply head cement or UV Resin. 

 

I will also tie this fly with a tungsten bead if I need to get it down deep.  I also give it a collar behind the bead with ice dub.  As with any fly, it’s all up to you.  Experiment and vary the fly to meet your needs

Tightlinevideo has a great video on how to tie this fly below:

 

If you have any questions about this fly or would like to submit a Fly of the Month I can be reached at 203 305-3850 or at pdinice@frontier.com .