The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning
The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning
Caddis
Medium - 3-5 Min
Coldwater
Although some of these materials are set in stone, there are a few that have easy substitutions. The Zug Bug has stood the test of time, so stick to the recipe whenever possible.
Rib: Oval Tinsel, or Ultra Wire in silver or gold will get the job done for the Rib on this fly.
Hackle: Any of your favorite hackle, sized correctly of course and in the right color, will be just fine on this bug.
Casing: Although it calls for a Wood Duck Flank Feather, a Mallard Flank Feather will create a very similar look.
The green color on this fly is so important, so sticking to that is crucial. As far as adding your own touch to this classic pattern, ribbing it with some Flashabou or Mirage Tinsel can create a slightly flasher, updated version of this battle proven pattern. As always, make sure you have multiple sizes.
The Zug Bug is originally meant to imitate a cased caddis, and while it does that quite well it can also be a stand in for various other insects that may catch the eye of a trout. The sheen of the all the peacock material along with how it’s segmented make the body of the fly hard to beat. The flank feather on top also does a wonderful job as a replacement for the head. Make sure to have plenty of these tied up for the next time you’re in the midst of caddis.
Fishing this bug closer to the bottom of the river will stir up the most excitement on the trout’s side of things. As the last fly in a two nymph rig, or the middle fly in a three nymph rig is where you should be finding this fly the majority of the time. It can also be a great trailer below a caddis dry fly if that is the kind of setup you’re rocking.
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Caddis Sizes: #10 - #22
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Copyright © 2003 – 2025 MidCurrent LLC, All Rights Reserved.