Illawarra Flyfishers Club

Woolly Worm

Text and Photos by Andrew Susani

Hook	#10 - #14 wet fly pattern
Thread	Black or Brown 6/0
Body	Fine dubbing (Talon olive muskrat pictured)
Tail	Wool (yellow wool pictured)
Hackle	Cock saddle (grizzly pictured)

Tying Procedure

	1. Start the thread at the tail and tie in a short length of wool. The wool should extend a few millimetres beyond the bend. Don't trim the other end too short either - I like to leave it about as long as the hook shank so I can tie it down and have a nice, thick base for the dubbed body. This also saves time and dubbing.
	2. Tie down the tag end over the hook shank and return the thread to the tail.
	3. Select a hackle feather with fibres a bit longer than the hook gape. Tie this in by the tip and flare out the fibres by gently running your fingers along either side the hackle stem.
	4. Twist a small amount of dubbing onto the thread and wind an even body along the hook shank.
	5. After you are happy with the thickness of the body, take a few wraps of thread just behind the eye of the hook.
	6. Wind the hackle forward in even turns around the body, stroking the fibres back with every turn. Tie off behind the eye and form a small head of thread. Whip finish and varnish, and the fly is complete.

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