108 buggerPresented from Issue 108, February 2014
As I write this we are experiencing some very hot weather in the Central Highlands. Prior to this though over Christmas it was cold and extremely windy. On most lakes as it gets hot the fish retreat to cooler waters. I don’t like to go boating on the very rough days, but am happy to give the shore fishing a go.

Just recently Bill and I were fishing the Bronte system and we started with a team of English dries - no fish, then small English wets - no fish. It was hot, so the thinking cap went on and I put a #3 sinking line on and some weighted flies. Bingo, we were into the fish and took a number of nice specimens – mostly on the bead head ‘Streamline Bugger’ point fly.

I love these bead head style flies and they can be fished deep on a weighted fly, but also near the surface on a floating line.

Mostly I tie the fly with the bead hard against the eye of the hook, but you can put it anywhere to change the action of the fly. The variety of beads is extensive — from plastics, to glass, brass, lead and tungsten. Lead wire can be added for even more weight.

The two flies most commonly tied with beads are nymphs and wolly buggers.

The fly shown is one I use to get down deep — it is not my favourite way to fish, but it does get results.

108 buggerStreamline Bugger

Method

  1. Place bead on hook and let it slip back to the hook bend. Build a small mound with the thread behind the eye and whip finish and cut off. Apply some head cement and slide the bead over the mound.
  2. Start with the thread again behind the bead and wind back to bend. Take a nice bunch of marabou for the tail about 1 1/2 time the hook length, add a length of Shimmerflash each side of the marabou and tie in.
  3. Tie rib in and dub a nicely formed body of Glister and finish hard up against the bead. Tie the rib forward to bead, tie down and cut off.
  4. Dub a throat of orange seals in behind the bead, whip finish and seal thread here with head cement.
  5. With a brush, velcro or sandpaper tease some of the seals fur back over the body.