Conehead Woolly Bugger

The conehead version of the classic Woolly Bugger sinks faster and creates a more pronounced jigging action than the standard bead-head variant. The tungsten cone keeps the head pointed down, forcing the fly to ride hook-up and dive aggressively on the strip. Fish it on a sink-tip line in deep pools and runs. The combination of marabou movement and cone-head jig action is often irresistible to large trout.

Type
streamer (Streamer)
Hook sizes
#4–8
Target species
trout, bass, steelhead
Difficulty
beginner
Best seasons
spring, summer, fall, winter

Materials

  • hook: 3X long streamer hook #4–8
  • thread: Black or olive 6/0
  • head: Tungsten cone head (black, gold, or copper)
  • weight: Lead wire behind cone
  • tail: Black or olive marabou with Krystal Flash
  • body: Black or olive chenille

Tying steps

  1. Slide a tungsten cone head onto a size 4–8 3XL hook; mount and wrap lead wire behind the cone.
  2. Start black or olive thread; wrap over lead and secure the cone.
  3. Tie in a full black or olive marabou tail with 4 strands of Krystal Flash at the bend.
  4. Tie in a rooster hackle by the tip at the bend.
  5. Wind black or olive chenille from bend to behind the cone as the body.
  6. Palmer the hackle forward in open spirals; tie off and trim.
  7. Build a neat head against the cone; whip finish and cement.
  8. Apply head cement to the thread wraps behind the cone head to prevent slipping.