Species: bass, brown trout, bream (size 8)
Remarks by Catch Cormier:
On a trip to Cody, Wyoming, my older son Kevin and I found ourselves chasing big browns on the Shoshone River below Buffalo Bill Dam. We were using a pattern called a Yukbugger, beefy variation of a woolybugger, recommended by the local shop.
The fish were 18 inches on up, and in the strong current, we had a couple of breakoffs. As well as a few lost to overhanging trees. I had my tying bag, and so Kevin decided to try his skill at tying this fly. It looked quite different from what we were fishing, but turned out to be just as effective.
Since it was 1999, and everyone was preoccupied with Y2K and possible end of the world, we named Kevin's fly the Y2K Bugger. For various species, it's been the end of their world (at least the ones we kept to eat).
Materials:
- Mustad 3366-BR size 4, or equivalent
- Brass eyes, medium, black
- Marabou
- Krystal Flash Chenille, medium
- Schlapplen
- Silli Legs - barred
Best color combos:
- olive marabou/ olive chenille / yellow-gold-black legging
- tan marabout / bonefish tan chenille / orange-orange-black legging
Preparation:
Fold a silicon skirt lengthwise in half, then cut the skirt in half. This is the exact length of legging that will be needed for this fly.
Instructions:
- tie thread from eye to just past the hook bend
- tie in eyes
- tie in marabou tail just where the hook starts to bend. When done right, the top of the marabou should be even with the hook shank.
- tie in two legs on top of marabou that extend to end of marabou. Wrap the thread over legs halfway to the eyes.
- tie in the chenille and begin wrapping to the front. When you get to the legging tag ends, pull the tag ends backward and wrap the chenille tight over the tags. This should set them about 45 degrees out from the body.
- Continue wrapping the chenille to just behind the eyes and lock down with thread. Now tie in a another silicon strip just behind the eyes. The strip will be tied in the middle – so you have a leg extending out on each side. Use a cross wrap to get the legs angled back about 45 degrees.
- Now turn the fly over to tie in the wing.
- Two options for the wing, both tied in front of the eyes: (1) make a dubbing loop with the schlapplen fibers. Wrap the fibers once around the hook, then trim any fibers on the underside of the body. (2) strip off two short sections of schlapplen fibers and tie each section in at an angle, much like you would tail biots on a Prince Nymph.
- Finish the head wraps and apply UV epoxy or nail polish.
Other Notes:
This fly can be tied in a size 8, and with a shorter tail to body ratio, where it then becomes a terrific attractor for redear and large bluegill during the early Spring and Fall months.