Tying the Bluegill It's A Bug - Dressed Irons

[@richardyadon9800]

Glad to see that you like the Bluegill Its-- Bug that I did the article in Fly Tyer back in 2001. I've fished this fly for 40+ years and have never failed to catch fish on it. Nice job on the tying tutorial too! This is THE BEST BLUEGILL FLY I EVER CAME UP WITH! Gary R, Yaden

[@DressedIrons]

Mr. Yaden, thank you for the comment (and the compliment). The day I saw this fly in your article I tied some up. It is such a simple fly with so much life. I have been fishing it ever since and always have some on hand for warm or coldwater outings. I even taught the Smallmouth version of the It's-A-Bug in my beginning fly tying classes for over ten years. Being in the middle of warmwater fly fishing country, most of the people learning to tie flies were/are more interested in panfish and Bass patterns than they are trout. The It's-A-Bug is a great introduction to using closed cell foam in fly tying/fishing that it just fit with my beginning fly tying class. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful fly. I hope it is around for many many years to come! - Ian Anderson

[@marksleeper3752]

Nice fly pattern thanks mark

[@DressedIrons]

Thank you, glad you like the fly and video. - Ian Anderson

[@edcastile]

Like the little bug hanging out on the camera lens

[@DressedIrons]

😅 Occasionally, they get in the way. - Ian Anderson

[@edcastile]

I’m assuming not of the Jetho Tull fame?😎

[@DressedIrons]

@@edcastile Correct

[@edcastile]

@@DressedIrons although he has a salmon farm in a loc in Scotland

[@DressedIrons]

@@edcastile I have heard that he has a trout farm as well. - Ian

[@davidhughes2622]

Nice little spider, man it's quite possibly the best in the box. 🎣🤠. Thanks for the tye . Dave Hughes

[@DressedIrons]

One of my favorites. Anytime I am on the water I carry a few. Mostly warmwater where I fish and there are always panfish on the prowl and It's-A-Bug always catches them. - Ian Anderson

[@iklink]

Sick looking fly. I think I love foam

[@DressedIrons]

Quick and fun to tie and it definitely catches fish. Glad you like the video. - Ian Anderson

[@dustinmatile3302]

One of my go-to flies for bass and bluegill. I sometimes throw on a marabou tail for a little extra for the bass.

[@DressedIrons]

I always have a few It's-A-Bug flies when out fishing, even for trout. I had the same idea years ago about the tail but opted for rubber legs instead. Check out the Smallmouth version of the It's-A-Bug fly ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppXWlmp-bseertE ). - Ian Anderson

[@jonathanlunsford1]

I tied 15 of these today. I did five in brown that looks like our June bugs

[@DressedIrons]

Wonderful, I never thought of Brown. Hope they do well for you. Thanks for sharing - Ian Anderson

[@c.p.1688]

What a cool fly! I hope I can tie it one day!

[@DressedIrons]

Thank you for the compliment! It is an easy fly to tie. Don't get too hung up and making it look just perfect. The fish will still love it! - Ian Anderson

[@richardyadon9800]

I get a lot of questions about where the name It's-A-Bug came from for this fly. My son and I had been fishing this as of then "unnamed" fly in my sister's and brother-in-law's strip pit lake formed when coal was taken out of their property. I changed the color of the fly I was using to another one and stuck the first fly in the plastic mesh of the cap I was wearing. When we got finished and wereleaving to come home, we stopped at their house. After a couple of minutes my sister saw the fly stuck in the mesh of my cap, said "You have a bug on your hat!" and grabbed a fly swatter and started hitting at it. My son, who was about 8-years old at the time, started yelling "No, Aunt Brenda, it's a bug for fishing!" and thus the "unnamed fly" got the name the "Bluegill It's-A- Bug"!

[@richardyadon9800]

I have also told a lot of fishermen who like this fly that if you are fishing for Bluegills with the Bluegill It's-A-Bug and are not catching any fish, then there are no fish where you are fishing!

[@DressedIrons]

Thanks for sharing that story. I love hearing how flies acquire their names. It often comes down to a offhand comment some one made or odd circumstance. Any other productive flies you like to share? - Ian Anderson

[@iklink]

Why not add the legs after?

[@DressedIrons]

Tied in the way it is in the video helps the legs look more natural on the fly and it help to make them more durable. That said, try a new way, you might find a better way to tie the fly. There is always room for improvement. - Ian Anderson