Articulated Brahma, Better than a Wooly Bugger! - McFly Angler Streamer Fly Tying Tutorials

A few months ago I tied up a fly called the Brahma Bugger, which I did not invent but loved fishing and tying the fly very much! The fly was originally tied by the tightlines youtube channel, and I re-named the fly "soft hackle bugger" because I did not use a brahma pelt, but instead used a soft hackle pelt from whiting. That video did really well, and that fly has been an amazing fish catcher for me. So I set out to improve on the fly, and make it better for a wider range of fish species.
I wanted to articulate the fly, and give it even more movement in the water. So I present you with the articulated brahma bugger, which catches more fish than I could imagine. In fact, it far out fished any other fly I had with me on my last trip. I could not keep the fish off of it. And it seemed to attract some really large trout as well! This articulated fly is really my favorite streamer now, and I don't think I will be fishing anywhere without at least a few in my box.
As always I am listing all the materials I used on this fly, along with a discount code to the Fly Artist, which is an online fly shop that I have been working with lately. When checking out at the fly artist, just type in the code "McFly10" at checkout and you will get your 10% off. On top of the best deals you can find online, you will also get great customer service from them, and free shipping for as little as $35 spent.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬Discount Code! ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
McFly10
Hook I used: Firehole sticks #811 in size 6
Alternative hook: Gamakatsu B10S - www.flyartist.com/products/ga...
Shank I used: Small sized Fish Joint - www.flytyersdungeon.com/Materi...
Alternative Shank: OPST Intruder Shank - www.flyartist.com/products/op...
Thread: Veevus 6/0 in Olive - www.flyartist.com/products/ve...
Feathers I used: Whiting Coq de Leon soft hackle with chickabou pelt died Chartreuse
Alternative feathers: Mets Mini Marabou - www.flyartist.com/products/ha... And soft hackle - www.flyartist.com/products/me...
Wire: Small Intruder wire in black - www.flyartist.com/products/se...
Cement: Brush on Zap a Gap - www.flyartist.com/collections...
Head cement: Solarez "Bone Dry" UV resin - www.flyartist.com/collections...
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Thin magnet and foam insert boxes - www.ebay.com/itm/Magnetic-and...
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#flytying #woolybugger #streamer #streamerjunkie #streamerjunky #trout #troutfly #bassbug #bassfly #bass #articulated #articulatedstreamer

[@stewoutdoors3020]

Love that pelt, just beautiful !! And the color, nice.

[@McFlyAngler]

Thanks! Yeah whiting makes some nice feathers man! Really some of the best, but you will pay... lol

[@tylerfarmer8806]

I absolutely love the look of this fly! This will have to be my next attempt

[@McFlyAngler]

Awesome man! Let me know how it goes. It’s a super effective fly man! Caught me lots of fish!

[@bigdaddy99929]

Very cool fly. Nicely done sir. Thank you.

[@McFlyAngler]

Thanks

[@consanit]

You make some great instructional videos buddy I don’t often have all the same materials but I use a lot of the techniques in my Flies.

[@McFlyAngler]

Thank you! Yeah, get creative man, use other materials. Try something new. If you ever want to get the same materials though, the fly artist (with the discount code in the description section) is a great place to go. Best price on quality materials.

[@johnnysants3980]

Thank you for taking the time to explain your directions clearly and to the point. And I love the enthusiastic. Tone respectfully yours JOHN in new haven ct

[@McFlyAngler]

Thanks glad you liked the video

[@bigpapi3636]

A couple beautiful Bows on that streamer. Good work on the tie and afterwards as well!

[@McFlyAngler]

Thanks! :).

[@marksleeper3752]

great vids and flys

[@McFlyAngler]

Thank you!

[@wesleyarmstrong5703]

Great fly! I've tied quite a few of the regular Brahma buggers. I think it's time to go articulated. I might be up on the San Juan the first week of December. I'll let you know once my schedule firms up in case you'll be out there and we could meet up.

[@McFlyAngler]

Awesome man, yeah tell me how they work for you!

[@AllTiedUpFlyTyingSchool]

Great hair clip hack! I have a few in different sizes.

[@McFlyAngler]

Oh yeah man, I don't tie streamers (especially articulated ones) without them! HAHA. Luckily I have a daughter that I just steal these from. lol :)

[@curtisblair7618]

Very nice video Shawn. I think that fly would even work here in Florida for bass.

[@McFlyAngler]

Thank you! Absolutely for bass! I think probably better for bass than even trout! Lol

[@stewoutdoors3020]

That's what I'm thinking.

[@WesternPaFlyFisher]

I'm going to have to whip one up for the Ohio River Small Mouth. Nice tie.

[@McFlyAngler]

Thanks!

[@Rickjapodaca]

Great video, love the action in the water. I would like to see one in a darker color.

[@McFlyAngler]

Ya, darker for sure could work, give it a try, I think they sell these soft hackles and chickabou with many many colors.

[@stonefly4894]

Enjoy your videos,the tying and the fishing. Really like this fly, been tying something similar for years....Try this: leave enough room to spin a deer hair head,with a deer hair collar. Trim head to somewhat of a cone shape,add eyes if you want. When stripping,the deer hair head brings the fly to an abrupt stop,it "slams the brakes" on. This allows the articulated tail to have more movement " left to right". The brakes slam on and the tail keeps moving left or right.Anyway,try it,think you'll like it.

[@McFlyAngler]

Thanks man! So Yea that sounds like a nice fly, but also a bit more complicated to tie. And therefor not as many in the box. So while it might have some neat aspects to it, I do find a fly like this sometimes has its place as well. I hope that makes sense? But yeah, I love deer hair head flies. They just are so tough to tie. Haha.

[@stonefly4894]

@@McFlyAngler I agree completely... I tie very few of the deer hair head flies and take extra care to ensure their durability...Best wishes and may God richly bless you and your family.

[@McFlyAngler]

Thanks man!

[@bigpapi3636]

I'll probably fish this pattern in lieu of wooly buggers, especially in black, olive and tan. I really like the shimmering effect that make it look more alive. Can't argue with success, I caught my PB rainbow on this fly last Sunday!

[@McFlyAngler]

Nice! Yeah you showed me the picture, that was a hawg!!! This fly really seems to work. Just takes a bit more effort to tie than a normal bugger. But, it works you know? LOL. I think worth the extra effort in the tie for sure!

[@bigpapi3636]

McFly Angler Yeah, it is an effective fly. The WBs are going into secondary storage! This one's the go-to!

[@michaelmckinley4573]

I typically use 20# nylon leader in lieu of wire. And I don't double the connection back over itself. I do cement it down well. I test it with a strong manual pull and I've only had one connection pull apart where I forgot to cement.

[@McFlyAngler]

Ok.

[@bobjohnson7207]

Nice fly

[@McFlyAngler]

Thanks ✌

[@trapezoidthesquirrelmaster5482]

Nice.

[@McFlyAngler]

Thank you

[@spadebit7756]

I’m headed home to Northern Colorado in the morning. Getting in 9 days of social distancing on the Cache La Poudre and Big Thompson.

[@McFlyAngler]

Dude! That’s my favorite type of social distancing. Fishing in prestiene Colorado water! You gonna give this streamer a try there?

[@spadebit7756]

McFly Angler I don’t have time to sit down and tie. At work now, leaving at 6:55 am. But some articulated streamers. Midges and maybe even some Blue Wing Olives are on the menu!

[@McFlyAngler]

Cool man! Good luck! Tell me how you do. Next time you go, let me know and I’ll tie up some flies for you. Soon I’ll be selling, within a few weeks I think. Just PM me on Instagram for some prices when you need some.

[@williammclauchlan2610]

Wow!!nice action!!thinking about a very slim reddish brown version to immitate small lugworm for early sea trout on my local estuary 😋 What is the black wire you are using to mount the mobile tail section?

[@McFlyAngler]

Thanks! It’s intruder wire, links to all products used are in the description section.

[@buckshot21000]

Looks like it would do good on a dead drift swing.

[@McFlyAngler]

For sure man, thanks for the comment.

[@MegaPhoto11]

Hello! I have a question What is the name of the alga that swims in your tank (aquarium) on top? :)))

[@McFlyAngler]

It’s a plant not algae. Don’t know the name but they are like mini lilli pads

[@emmettbowen4431]

Way cool fly! Have you had any luck with it fishing?

[@McFlyAngler]

Yes, it works really well

[@rjf1877]

Very nice looking fly. I noticed that you do not weight either the articulated bugger or the original is there a particular reason. Thanks very much and keep up the good work !

[@McFlyAngler]

I find it swims better to be non weighted and weight it with some lead further up the line if you need. But you can definitely weight it if you want... lead wire works fine. Just it makes it not flow as well, as the sinking motion changes the pulsating action a bit

[@rjf1877]

Thanks very much for your prompt reply. I going to do some Euro nymphing on the Madison next week and I was trying to figure our the best way to tie your pattern since I won't have the benefit of sinking line or weight on the tippet or leader. Do you think the pattern will work on a Euro set up or will it be too buoyant? I guess I could always tie it on a jig hook with a small slotted bead to down a little.@@McFlyAngler

[@McFlyAngler]

I would not euro nymph this. When I think euro nymphing I think heavy nymph, with a tungsten bead. To get a streamer like this to sink that fast, you would need lots of weight which would make casting this almost impossible on a 10-11’ 3-4wt rod. Keep this to normal streamer fishing and euro nymphing to nymphing.

[@marksleeper3752]

Maine here

[@McFlyAngler]

How’s the weather out there this time of year?

[@iam73en]

were you fishing it on a spinning real?

[@McFlyAngler]

No, you can cast these on a fly rod, I’ve casted on as small as a 3wt. But of course I can double haul pretty well, for most people probably best to use a 5wt

[@alecchrz]

Could I add eyes to this?

[@McFlyAngler]

Sure! A dot of gel super glue...

[@rivaking4569]

Good looking fly. Too many steps though. It would take a week to tie 24 of these. Maybe worth the effort for spring steel though.

[@McFlyAngler]

It is a long tie for sure. But so are flies like the game changer and like. This is not a fill the box type fly for sure. 3-4 for your next trip when the fish are picky is good enough.

[@rushthezeppelin]

The way I look at it is that you are often fishing these things on heavy heavy tippet and the hooks are heavy so you usually don't lose them often. Combine that with techniques for making big articulated flies durable and you will catch many many fish on them. Also articulated flies are the best way to bring the big meat eaters out of hiding and weed out the dinks.

[@brockwilson3446]

B10s #6 is a lot smaller than firehole #6

[@McFlyAngler]

I don’t have both hooks in front of me to compare, but when you say smaller, do you mean the gap or the shank?

[@brockwilson3446]

@@McFlyAngler sorry I'm just seeing this. But the firehole hook is a larger thickness wire and the hook gap and shank is longer and bigger. Both great hooks.

[@Troumon]

It's really nice, both pattern, color and video. But - I think it's a bit over dressed. The action would be even better with the hackle wound more sparse. And my experience is that the fish tend to bite in the tail, and not get hooked. I would use a second hook instead of a shank.

[@McFlyAngler]

Thanks! So the place where I was fishing these, I could not use a double hook, and I tried using a shank in the front with a hook in the back but it killed the movement of the tail. I had about 1 short strike to every 10 bites when fishing this. So I figured it was fine... As for being over dressed, it’s quite sparse until you reach the head, but I also wanted this to push some water (which will cause that tail to move a bit more) so I stacked some extra wraps in the front, to give it some more bulk there. I find that there is plenty of movement, and in all honesty it’s one of my best producing streamers right now. But this is the beauty of being able to tie flies, make them how you want them. Tie it more sparse, more dense, however you want it to be. Improve the fly for you. That’s the beauty! :). This is something I always encourage, for people to take any of my videos and use them just as a guide or idea. Then go make the fly their own, change it with color, materials, or even the way it’s tied. :)

[@Troumon]

@@McFlyAngler Thanks for your answer. It's always interesting and inspiring to hear about the thoughts behind the pattern. Keep up the good work, and tight lines!

[@McFlyAngler]

I wish I could put more info into each of my videos like this, but I find that when they reach the 10 minute mark, people won’t watch. Haha.

[@timothylisk7665]

@@McFlyAngler I'm a beginner tyer and I'd watch for 30 minutes if you made them. Your videos have shown me that by taking my time and combining fly tying fundamentals I am able to tie some really nice flies.

[@allenjones1947]

I HATE this new premiere thing its do annoying

[@McFlyAngler]

Well videos will be out live the same time as always. Lol. Just it lets you know ahead of time. That’s all. Sorry for your hate on it. But it does actually boost my views for some reason. So some people like it. Maybe they will improve the process.