Elk Creek Bugger

 The Elk Creek Bugger is a version of the white woolly buggers that have become popular on Elk Creek.The Elk Creek Bugger is a mix between the Flash Fly and the white Woolly Bugger.  White was the original but chartreuse, black, olive, and blue are also effective colors while swinging for steelhead.

Hook: MFC no. 7099 size 8
Thread: 3/0 color to match fly
Weight: gold beadhead
Tail: marabou
Body: Estaz or cactus chenille
Wing: 6 strands of pearl flashabou
Collar 1#: 2 wraps of olive schlappen
Collar 2#: olive guinea fowl feather
Colors: white, olive, black, chartreuse, blue

STEP 1: Take a MFC no. 7099 size 8, flatten the barb, and slip on a large gold beadhead.  Attach your thread behind the beadhead, build a thread dam to prevent the bead from slipping backwards, and wrap back to the tie in point.



 

STEP 2: Select a large marabou plum and remove the stiff center stem.  Measure the feather against the hook shank, the marabou should extend past the tie in point the same length as the shank.  Tie in the marabou using a pinch wrap and bind down the stem.  Trim off the excess. (Photo 2A)



Photo 2A

 

At the tie in point, tie in a length of Estaz or cactus chenille. Advance your thread to behind the beadhead.

Photo 2B

STEP 3: Wrap the Estaz or cactus chenille up to the thread behind the beadhead.  Secure and trim off the excess.

STEP 4: Take 4-6 strands of pearl flashabou and tie in on the top of the fly.

STEP 5: Take a Schlappen feather, strip off the fuzzy fibers on the bottom, and tie in by the tip (Photo 5A).

Photo 5A

Wind two wraps of hackle onto the fly.  Be sure to be sparse with this step.  Trim off the excess hackle. (Photo 5B)


Photo 5B

STEP 6: Take a large Guinea Fowl feather that's dyed to match the color of the flies body (available from Spirit River).  Use a natural colored feather (black and white) for a white bodied bugger.  Prepare the feather by stripping off the fuzzy material at the base of the stem and pulling the fibers back.  Tie the feather in by the tip. (Photo 6A)

Photo 6A

Wrap the guinea fowl feather around the shank twice, then secure and trim off.  Whip finish and add a drop of head cement. 



The Finished Fly