Tying The Wooly Bugger with Kelly Galloup 

There is only one person in the world that would take 35mins to explain how to tie a wooly bugger and not make it boring!!! Thank you Kelly!!! Love watching your videos!

A five minute fly in a half hour of timeless tips. Love it!

I love that Kelly shouts out to Charlie Craven. Always the mark of a good businessman to appreciate the others in the same industry.

Kelly’s amazing. I learn something from every video. We showed up at his shop having a difficult time, we’d never fished the big western rivers and started on the Madison. Kelly stopped what he was doing and gave us a 30 minute lesson. Made our trip and made the big rivers much more fishable to us. Thanks Kelly!!

Only you could spend over a half hour demonstrating tying a Wooly Bugger. Watching you’re tying demonstrations provides so much information you could never remember everything. You mention tying every kind of fly and so many techniques I feel sorry for some young newbie fly angler who has trouble enough putting a hook in their vise. Don’t ever change, I love watching your videos.

Great tips. No matter how many times you watch someone tie up a fly you can always learn something new.

He's here to show how to tie a wooly bugger and I end up learning 5X the information I never knew I needed. Great stuff!!

Your tip about the thread spacing was awesome.. great rule #1 nothing passed the tread to leave head space is perfect.. thanks J

This is an instant classic! I would recommend it to any beginning tyer. So many important basics AND pro tips! Thanks, Kelly!

Me at minute 0:01 Why do I need a 35 minute video on a Wooly Bugger? Me at Minute 35:03 - Ahhhh, that's why. Great tie - great advice - great video!

I've been tying for 40 years, on and off, but mostly off. I just started getting back in to it this was soooo interesting. Love the fact that most is not gospel but suggestions. What was most important was stated as such. Wish he had a book of different flys and how to tie them. That is the lsat thing I'm looking for.

I love Kelly's videos because he isn't trying to SELL us anything. Money saving tips? Hell yeah.

Thank You Kelly. Even with years of experience and acclaim, your genuine enthusiasm , desire to help, and fundamental based approach are all such admirable qualities . Your work and contributions here are greatly appreciated.

I love the way you teach fly tying! The information you give is outstanding the way you cover feathers thread and so much more in just one fly ! A pleasure to watch!

Wow! Great video. I came for one thing and got a case full of info! So many great tips in one video. I learned a ton! Thanks so much!

Only Kelly could make a 35 minute woolly bugger video! Love the info, tips, and the peek inside the mind. Cant wait for the rivers to come down just a bit! Happy fishing everyone!

Thanks for the thorough lesson on the wooly bugger. It’s nice to spend time with someone as knowledgeable as yourself. I’ve been tying for quite a while and always find something new n your tying lessons. Thanks again.

I could watch you tie flies all day long. So informative.

Awesome sauce, thanks Kelly. I have never tied in the flashabou. When you spun your vise I noticed the flash along the body. You explained the tying process well and I will incorporate this step into my next wooly bugger tie. Peace, Big John

I’ve been tying for years and learned a few new things from this video, and you are entertaining to watch. Just wanted to state my appreciation. Thanks

Yikes. For the past 50 years I thought I knew how to tie a Woolly Bugger! Great vid!

Thanks Kelly! Your videos are amazing and super informative. I’m not a kid, but I’m a beginner at fly tying so I appreciate all the info. With this Covid-19 thing going around, l figured it’s a great time to learn.

As a VERY new tier I want to say THANK YOU for the extremely detailed presentation.

Kelly is a great guy! He taught me how to tie flies along time ago when I first started out fly fishing. The Troutsman in Traverse City, Mi. Nice to see him still teaching the same fly!

I taught tying classes for a few years and kids or adults I started them on the Bugger first, because no matter how horrible it turned out, it would still catch fish! I hadn't thought of Indian necks, so I'll look for them , thank you so much!

WoW, this video was really Informative and helpful to tying my next fly, I've tied to flys so far and they don't even look as good as yours do. And I can't wait to try this out.

I have been trying since 1980, learn something every video of yours I watch. (I also feel less guilty about not using a whip finisher adeptly, though starting to like them) Thanks !

You really enjoy what you're doing .... makes for a good instructor.

The wooly bugger is the fly that converted me to fly fishing, along with the fish themselves lol! I was interested in fly fishing but was a spinning reel guy. I wanted to try some sort of fly on my spinning reel before making the gear jump into fly fishing. So when I was in the sierra's (Bridgeport area) I went into Ken's Sporting goods. The best tackle shop I knew of at the time (in the sierras). Which is also in Bridgeport, so I guess my travels hadn't taken me too far lol. I told them I was interested in fly fishing but wanted to try some flies on my spinning setup before making the jump to actual fly gear. I was pointed towards the wooly bugger. I remember the 1st day I tried the bugger, it landed me 3 fish within a mile from camp, including one I played cat and mouse with visually! From that point forward my fishing has moved towards fly fishing. Flash forward 5 more years and I cant see myself going back. I have now caught fish on flies I have tied myself and enjoyed watching family and friends catch fish on gear I made as well. Shoot even my dad is getting into tying now, its beautiful!

Only Kelly Gallup could make a half an hour video on a woolly bugger.

I like all of your videos, This One Is the Best. So much information shared. Thank you.

I just got into tying, been fly fishing for 4 years now. Such a fun challenge compared to spinner fishing. I tried to reproduce a wooly bugger I picked up from a local shop and it turned out so bad lol. Being able to see each step will help a lot. I like the thread base setup. Helps keep the proportions

Great instructional video for an amazing fly. Thank you.

Awesome tutorial as usual, Kelly...

That was great, A Wooly Bugger is my go to. I really enjoyed that and learned a ton, thanks. Thumbs up.

Very informational! I've been tying for years and thought I was pretty good until I saw this! I've made almost every mistake he talked about.

Awesome teaching. First time watching your video very helpful. Thank you

Thanks ,for taking the time! Awesome teaching . Learned so much!

Thanks for sharing- I tied enough of these i thought i would not learn anything new...i was wrong!

Great tie. Definitely learned something.

10/10 bugger! Just when I thought that was the easiest fly, I learned a thing 👍

You're a fantastic teacher! Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Galloup.

Great video the attention to detail made my first one turn out better textbook

Give me a dark WB during the cutt spawn on stillwater in the AZ mountains and I’ll show you some really nice, big fish. SUCH rewarding fishing.

Kelly is on another level entirely. He might have fish in his family tree !!

Love this guy, I'm new to tying and every video of his answers about a dozen questions I didn't even know I had. He really should write a book as someone else mentioned, would sell for sure.

One other point I didn't hear Kelly mention is that the Wooly Bugger is a great starter fly because it is the foundation for many advanced patterns, such as the Mini Dungeon and the Wooly Sculpin. Once a beginner has these down they can advance to the next level with confidence.

I am new to tying Kelly and find your videos very helpful. Thank you for sharing this information. Living in West Central GA, there is nowhere to purchase tying materials - you gotta head up north to find a legit fly shop. I will be, in the very future, purchasing some materials from you in support of your channel. Sub'd and very appreciative. Thank you!

Excellent demo.

Kelly I think Davie showed me how to "Not rush the head," he was around tying before I found you. Your method of doing the head space is really good! I have never seen a Charlie Craven sponge before! I had thought of one idea which was using a ceramic stamp dampener but I could never find one, that sponge is awesome.

Well, I'm addicted to watching 👀 fly tying. Fly Fishing, guitar playing and weight lifting evaporate a day. So, do I dare invest in a vice and the lot???? I've a hunch I'd love it as much as watching your tutorials. 🐟

Amazing video! Super informative for beginners and novices. But I have to admit…, I love calling it a WOLLY BOOGER!!

I love to watch your videos,... I’m going to try to tie some flies for myself. I think I should just buy the Deluxe kit from ( Orvis ) with all the tools so I make sure I have everything to get stated. Watching your Show from Kentucky. Thanks for all that great information .

Nice presentation. Thank you.

Tied this fly then went and caught 24 brookies. great tie

Excellent tutorial a waelth of information as usual. ATB

Interesting way of holding the bobbin. Never noticed the way you hold it in other videos

Awesome video !!!

I have about 60 or so of the wooley buggers in different weights ,black ,olive, brown ,orange and white, they are my go Tom's and leech patterns black ,purple ,olive and mix colors as well, cant go wrong with these flies

Kelly you got my attention sir. excellent teacher, I learned something tonight. Just love tying buggers. have you ever used a purple one?

“Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.” That’s the saying every drill sergeant and fly maker has in common.

Does Kelly have a video going over the jargon of fly tying? Like when he talks about thread choice?

Nice tie! Greetings from Int'l Angler..

Was lucky to find your videos early that got me into tying and then Brian's at Madriver after! Side question where did you get that cup!?

Great stuff... I thought I was doing all right... I was wrong 😅🤣

I think you understate the case for the bugger Kelly! :) Hope you and the boys are doing well. McGibben

Great Stuff!!!

I taught myself to tie flys, when I was 12. I haven't met anyone, until now, who knew about wetting your marabou and flashabou, to keep it thin, and stuck together! I grew up with toxic die on my fingers. So, I like that sponge cup idea. The wolly bugger was one my first flys made, and I still fish them 40 years later! I stopped putting flashabou down the body, since it is usually covered up, with hackle & wire. I just leave the extra flash, added to the tail! I also start my hackle at the back, and wrap it forward.... either way works! This ain't rocket science, its fishing!

I don't use a whip finishing tool either. Early in my tying career I took a class from A.K. Best on production tying. He emphasized never setting your scissors down and hand whip finishing. Both are production techniques. You save time not picking up a tool with both. But the hand whip is soooo much more versatile than using a tool. You can hand whip anywhere on the fly so much easier. Like at the back of a popper head. And I also feel like you can place the wraps more precisely. Another great tutorial from Kelly. It is like when Vince Lombardi spent a half day talking to seasoned pro coaches about the simple trap play. They learned so much more than just that play. Kudos Kelly.

Do you tie all of them weightless or do you weight some? If you weight them, do you use Dumbbell eyes, coneheads or lead wire? Thanks and keep teaching!!

Love the woolly bugger especially rich osthoffs soft hackle version. A great place to get hen hackle for this version is from collins hackle farm. He sells hen capes and saddles as a set $25 or $20 each if you buy two.

Anybody know what the cabinet behind him is called?

Nice. Quick question: Why not tie the hackle into the back by the tip? It seems a little more secure.

What's the schlappen used for? You discussed the cost-benefit of using an India rooster saddle for this fly, but I don't understand why the extra schlappen is valuable. What's it for?

Thanks for the video. What I hate most tying a Wooly Bugger is the 'drop off' where the chenille is tied off near the eye. I like a small head on my flies as they make the fly look neater. With a Wooly Bugger this is a pain in the a** because of the big difference in diameter of the chenille vs the hook shank from the tying of the chenille. I wonder if there's a way to have a smaller drop off when using chenille?

Wolly bugger is a good fly for pike

A classic.

Kelly thanks for another great video. The only thing missing was Johnny.

I'm curious to know why everyone uses chenille instead of a dubbing loop. Is it just tradition or something more? I love the wild bushy look that a dubbing loop can give you but if the chenille will catch you more fish, that's pretty easy math....

I tie in the hackle from the tip end of the feather at the tail end just so its more secure.

Great video. Wouldn't it be easier to tie the hackle tip in at the hook bend and then wind it forward and tie off at the head? Anyway, that's the way I've always done it. Good idea about using the Flashabou along the side of the body - must try that.

Question: Regarding the Ultra wire, the order form shows small, medium, and so on. Is this the size of the wire or the size of the spool?

Great Carp fly for fish cruising around near surface in dirty water

New to the channel and maybe I missed it. What vise is this? Fishing and Fly Fishing for 50 years and just starting to tie. This is very informative as I want to focus on wooly buggers, streamers and some salt water jigs. Looking for a vise for larger hooks.

Hi Kelly, I want to buy my son a vice & a bobbin for his birthday, do you have any recommendations? Thanks! Great video.

I really enjoy your videos! And as many have already said, you do a great job of making a "routine" fly interesting. Thank you so much! May I add one small bit of constructive criticism? Tying black on black on black doesn't always show up well on camera. Maybe use a brighter or more contrasting color scheme next time? Again, I love your videos and have the utmost respect for you. I'm just trying to make things better for everybody. :)

What bird does "marabou" come from? Also, will this fly ride hook down as tied????

Thanks for the bugger! I am getting into streaming my fly tying and I am curious about your camera placement. I notice you use different camera angles but I do not see the camera that you are using for the closeup on the fly while you are tying. Are you tying 2 flies and editing? Or are you actually using more than 1 camera? Thanks

thanks.............

If you like gadgets, a small crock or container filled with dry rice and stick your scissors and bodkin in to protect the tips. Try it and let me know what you think.

Would y’all be able to let us know what flies you intend to tie as part of the beginner series and we can pick up the materials?

you dont have to use the same color of threads i tie those and i dont use the same color you can but it not a need

I just wach these videos to see how some of the flies I own are tied

If I could only have one fly,,, Id take the olive bugger .

Pro jock, now thats funny right there.

First........... fly I ever tied.

I've tied up enough flies for 3-4 seasons. Not able to go fishing because of this dang virus.

Gives me imagination.

Smallmouth killer