The Big Bird Bugger

Recipe

Hook - 3XL, 2XH streamer hook-sz. 2 or 4
Thread - yellow 210 denier or clear mono
Dumbbell Eyes - 11/64 brass eyes in gold (sz.4) 3/16 (sz.2)

*eyes are optional - I add fabric paint eyes directly to the brass eyes before completing the fly.  If you would like to learn how to do that, click the button below. If you are new to fly tying and would like to learn how to attach dumbbell eyes to your flies, click here to see a tutorial.

Fabric Paint Eyes

Tail - yellow marabou topped with yellow barred grizzly marabou
Flash - yellow and gold krystal flash - 2 strands of each on each side of the marabou
Body - 2 yellow saddles and yellow sparkle scrub *twist all three materials together with a binder clip and wrap forward to just behind dumbbell eyes.

Legs - 2 yellow rubber or silicone legs tied on each side of the body directly behind dumbbell eyes

Head - 2 yellow, grizzly soft hackles wrapped together behind eyes (2-4 wraps)
*advance thread to in front of dumbbell eyes and tie in two clumps of yellow dubbing on top and bottom - wrap thread back over dubbing and comb backward to achieve desired head shape and brush dubbing out

Finish - yellow nail polish top coated with Sally Hansen Hard as Nails

Tying Notes

This fly is just a beefy woolly bugger with dumbbell eyes.  The tricky part is tying the middle body section and twisting materials together with the binder clip.  It is not hard to do with a little practice it just takes some getting used to.  This fly has awesome action under water and it is in part to the shape of the head.  try to get your head shape as close to the picture as possible.  This will make your fly dart from side to side when retrieved quickly.  

Fishing Tips

This fly shines during the hot days of summer in smallmouth bass streams.  This fly can be retrieved quickly or jigged slowly because of the dumbbell eyes.  Experiment with your retrieve to find out what the fish will take on any given day.  This fly has been known to motivate larger fish to eat during hot weather.  In shallow water, use a floating line with a longer leader close to nine feet.  in deeper water, shorten the leader and use an intermediate sink or full sink fly line to reach fish.  if you couple this fly with a short leader and a sink tip you can also jig this fly in and around structure.  The Big Bird Bugger is very versatile!  Get out there and give it a try!  You will not be disappointed! Check out the video below to see this fly in action!