Tying Sawyer's Killer Bug with Davie McPhail 

Been recycling strands of copper wire from expired electric kettles (cords) etc. and weighting my hooks, very much as this video, for many years. I also use it as ribbing, a single strand as fine, 2 parallel strands as medium etc. When adding it as weight, I soak the wound strands as you did the butt. I also use it to make a version of a bead head, soaked as well with SH hard as nails etc. A very useful material, readily available and mostly free! I don’t have any Chadwick’s etc. and think any similar colour wool etc.would likely work but will have to put that to the test this coming season! Been tying for 55 years! Thanks for all your videos over the years! I hope to see many more! 😊

This is amazing. The materials and tools are truly special. However, it is also because of the tying technique that beautiful flies are completed. I saw some good things.

Hi Davie, nice instructional video of your usual quality. I'm surprised you didn't mention the alternative wool for the "killer bug". Jamieson's Of Shetland sell it (there may be other retailers), Spindrift wool in Oyster. You need to remove a strand to get similar thickness of wool to Chadwicks (which now costs an arm and leg if you can find it). All the best.

I did enjoy it, Davie... thank you. Mike

Brilliant. I might also try that with an added shell back before ribbing.

Nice use of the wool, not bulk or waste

Awesome patterns, Mega Thx Davie !!!

Simple and effective. Excellent patterns

I love that 2nd one!!!

Great video davie tks for posting 😊

Great ideas.. I'v been striping broken guitar strings. Great tye, Davie, as always, Thank you!

Found ur site by accident but very pleasesd with your patterns.this bug reminds me of our native sow bug,freshwater shrimp type bug.so should be very good imitation of such,will try some.hey we have a small early flat stonefly that comes on in may its yellow but prior to fishing season is small black one.have tied those with success but do you have a yellow one your fond of.would like to see it n tye.!!!snookie pa😊😊😊😊

Preliminary search said only a substitute is available for Chadwick’s 477. Bummer! Like here is where my mind goes with it….477 probably has certain pheromones that giant brown trout and James Bond can only smell.

Particularly like the curved hook and dubbed version

"Okay!! It's been a while, but I wanted to leave a comment. I bought Chadwick's 477 on eBay. It's a Veniard product. The problem is the wire!! I used UTC XS, but it keeps snapping to the point where it's unusable. The SM or BR sizes don't have the right thickness either... So I ordered Veniard XS from eBay as well. Is there any way to prevent the wire from snapping? As always, love your awesome videos!!"

It seems one can no longer get Chadwicks wool. I've been looking for a substitute in the appropriate shade or color, that said I've found 1 by semperfli though the reviews indicate it is not even close to the same as the old Chadwick's 477. That said, where can one get something like this?

I'd like to see both of them wet to see how close they are when fished.

The dubbed version wins! Super buggy.

🙂👍🏻

👍💪

Thanks Davie Love these Killer Bugs as ALWAYS ..

That wool is now like hens teeth and very expensive

Got any good scud patterns Davie?

Fantastic this

You’ve got great precision in all these flies I love it.

Thank you Davie for good fly and recipe!!!

BRAVO Davie. Chadwicks is relatively non existent anymore. If You can find it they want Gold and Diamonds for it. TO THE VISE!

I’ve always thought the Killer Bug looks more like the maggots started fishing with as a kid. But then, given its original purpose (to remove those pesky Grayling) that couldn’t possibly be true, could it…….🤔

I will try the dark grey version for searun trout in Denmark soon. Looks like a killer!

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I have always thought the Killer Bug represented a Crane Fly larva very well.

Basicaly, it's a gamarus/scud?

That's such a simple pattern, but I love it. I need to put a half dozen in my box for after the thaw. Cheers!

Awesome flies! Can’t beat the original KB.

Great bug and scud fly thanks for tying it, greetings from the Netherlands 👍🏻

Skromne ale piękne pozdrawiam 💪🏻

Nice fly Davie, Tight lines.

Interesting bug! Thanks Davie

My favorite ❤️

very nice

Just made 6. The first 3 were with a “dirty bug” yarn, and the last I blended some black, white and ice flash dubbing. I think they’ll fish - we’ll find out Friday morning. Hitting the Dungeness River in western Washington state. Cheers Davie!

Does that imitate a sow bug Mr Mcphail?

The fetish about Chadwick's 477 always amuses me, especially given that most people use copper coloured wire like you used. The wire Sawyer used was red enamelled wire from relay coils. In use the heat would turn the enamel to a brownish red.