This is a simple version of the classic Woolly Bugger, but tied as a “micro” for fishing with light tackle in smaller waters.
- Hook: #8-12 3x long
- Weight: 0.020″ lead free
- Thread: To match belly color
- Tail: Mini Marabou, with 2-4 strands of flash
- Rib: Fine wire
- Belly: Chenille or yarn
- Body: Peacock herl
- Hackle: Any color
There’s really no history on this pattern. I didn’t find it in any book. Of course I didn’t create it either– I’m just calling it exactly what it is, an orange belly micro bugger. And I call it a micro woolly bugger because I usually tie these pretty small to fish with a 2- or 3-weight rod, sometimes even a 1-weight.
But what’s cool about these little small streamers is that you can fish them as a streamer or as a big nymph. A lot of times I will fish this pattern by dead drifting it through a fast run or riffle and then at the tail of that run, just strip it like a regular streamer. And it’ll catch fish in the fast or the slow water.
So this is a fun and easy pattern. No exotic materials and the color combinations are pretty much endless. So if you don’t routinely tie and fish something like this, I would encourage you to give it a try. It’s so simple and easy and this pattern simply catches a lot of fish.