Tying Instructions: Denny's Seal Bugger

1. Attach the .020 lead-free wire behind the eye and wrap 12-20 times on the shank.
Step One
2. Attach the thread to the shank at the rear of the lead wraps.
Step Two
3. Secure the lead wire with thread wraps. Bring the thread back to the bend of the hook.
Step Three
4. Clip the fibers off a marabou plume stem to tie in a tail. The length should be 1.5 times the shank length. Keep the number of tail fibers sparse about 15-20 fibers. Secure the marabou with 3-4 pinch wraps keeping the material on top of the shank.
Step Four
5. Secure the butt ends of the marabou over the lead wraps with thread wraps and trim off the excess. Attach a copper wire ribbing to the bottom of the shank at the tail tie-in position. Bring the thread back to the tail tie-in position. Step Five
6. Attach a strand of Flashabou on each side of the tail. The strand should go the length of the tail.
Step Six
7. Create a dubbing loop at the tail tie-in position and bring the bobbin thread up to the eye to keep it out of your way. Place the dubbing within the loop and twist into a rope. You can maneuver the material within the dubbing loop to distribute. Use your fingers to twist the material into the rope if it is too loose.
Step Seven
8. Wrap the dubbing forward. Bring the dubbing to just behind the eye. If you run out of material from the first loop, it's okay! Just make another short one. Create the loop using a dubbing loop tool to separate the strands. Apply some more Simi Seal within the loop. Step Eight
9. Spin the loop to lock the fibers in and you can use your fingers to twist to material into a uniform rope.
Step Nine
10. Wrap the dubbing about an eye width behind the eye and secure with thread wraps. Select a saddle hackle a couple sizes smaller than the hook. For instance, a size 8 hook would use a size 12 hackle. Attach the hackle just in front of the body by the base with thread wraps. The shiny side of the hackle should face forward so the the fibers sweep back.
Step Ten
11. Palmer the hackle back towards the tail with about 5 wraps. Wrap the wire around the tag end of the hackle to secure it and wrap the ribbing forward, taking care not to catch some of the saddle hackle fibers.
Step Eleven
12. Secure the ribbing wire just behind the eye with thread wraps and trim off the tag.
Step Twelve
13. Build a small thread head and Whip Finish. Brush the body with a piece of velcro or a dubbing brush. Tease the dubbing material so that it extends through the hackle fibers and tends to blend in.
Step Thirteen
14. Apply some head cement the thread head. The finished Olive Seal Bugger
Step Fourteen

©2023 Steve Schalla
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