Skip to content

The pattern notebook · nymph

Zug Bug

How do you tie a Zug Bug?

Zug Bug is a nymph fly pattern for trout. Find its 8 materials and 16 tying steps below.

Difficulty
3 of 5
Target species
trout
Pattern designer
Cliff Zug

Added to catalog · Updated

At the vise

Materials

  • Hook: #8-16 2x long nymph
  • Thread: Black
  • Weight: Optional
  • Tail: Peacock sword
  • Rib: Silver tinsel (oval, flat or wire)
  • Body: Peacock herl
  • Hackle/legs: Brown hen or partridge
  • Wingcase: Mallard flank

Have some of these already? The app matches recipes against your inventory and helps you build a shopping list for the gaps.

Open this pattern in the appDownload for iOS or Android

Tying instructions

  1. Secure the hook in the vise.

  2. Lay down a base of black thread from behind the eye to the bend.

  3. Tie in peacock sword fibers at the bend for the tail, extending one shank-length.

  4. Tie in silver tinsel at the bend for the rib.

  5. Tie in 3-4 strands of peacock herl at the bend.

  6. Wrap the peacock herl forward to create a fat, herly body, stopping about 2 eye-lengths back from the eye.

  7. Counter-wrap the silver tinsel forward to rib the body, using 4 wraps.

  8. Tie off the silver tinsel and trim.

  9. Tie in a brown hen or partridge hackle feather.

  10. Wrap the hackle forward, making two wraps.

  11. Fold the hackle back and tie down.

  12. Trim the excess hackle.

  13. Tie in a mallard flank feather on top as a wingcase.

  14. Trim the mallard flank feather to about 1/3 the length of the body.

  15. Whip finish.

  16. Apply head cement.

Explore more fly patterns