The pattern notebook · streamer
Zirdle Bug
How do you tie a Zirdle Bug?
Zirdle Bug is a streamer fly pattern for trout. Find its 6 materials and 25 tying steps below.
- Difficulty
- 2 of 5
- Target species
- trout
- Pattern designer
- Charlie Craven
Added to catalog · Updated
At the vise
Materials
- Hook: Hanak 400BL #8
- Bead: 3.8mm Orange Tungsten Slotted Bead
- Thread: UNI 6/0 Black
- Body: Olive/Rust Medium Variegated Chenille
- Legs: Rusty Olive Superfloss
- Wing: Olive Variant Rabbit Strip
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Tying instructions
Place the orange tungsten slotted bead on the hook and secure the hook in the vise.
Start the thread just behind the bead and build a small thread wedge to prop the bead up.
Wrap the thread back to the bend of the hook.
Strip the end of the olive/rust variegated chenille, leaving only the cotton core exposed.
Tie in the chenille by the exposed core at the bend of the hook and secure it with tight wraps.
Tie in three strands of rusty olive superfloss at the middle of the hook shank, like spinner wings, with a couple of wraps one way and a couple the other way.
Pull on the superfloss to square them up, so they stick out to the sides.
Wrap the thread up just behind the bead.
Wrap the chenille forward, catching the backmost leg on the near side with each turn.
Wrap the chenille forward, catching the backmost leg on the far side with each turn.
Continue wrapping the chenille forward, maneuvering the legs and chenille, placing the chenille in between the legs and lining up the wraps.
Take a turn in front of the legs so that they are spread out down the body.
Sweep the legs back and get another turn on there so that they are evenly spread through the body.
Tie off the chenille right up to the back of the bead and trim the excess.
Whip finish behind the bead.
Trim the legs to about a shank length long.
Poke the hook point through the olive variant rabbit strip.
Slide the rabbit strip up around the bend of the hook and turn it over all the way, then clamp it back down in the vise.
Grab a hold of some of the fur down near the hook and wet the rest of it.
Center the rabbit strip right over the top of the fly and buckle it down, then catch it with a turn.
Pull the fur out of the way so you can get a clean tie off.
Trim the rabbit strip hide as close as you can, usually takes a couple of snips.
Taper the end of the rabbit strip.
Sweep things back and build just enough thread wraps to smooth everything off.
Add a little head cement to lock things down.