FLY
Zug Bug
Zug Bug recipe
| Hook | Nymph 2XL Hook, Size 16 (Size Range 14 – 18) |
|---|---|
| Thread | 70 Denier, Black |
| Weighted Wire | 0.015 Lead-Free |
| Tail | Peacock Sword (3) |
| Rib | Brassie Silver Wire |
| Body | Peacock Herl |
| Hackle | Partridge |
| Wing Case | Mallard Flank |
About this fly
Cliff Zug, of Pennsylvania, created the Zug Bug in the early 1930s and was a precursor to the Prince Nymph. The main similarities between the Zug Bug and the Prince Nymph are the peacock herl body and partridge hackle/legs . Both flies are deadly in certain situations. The Zug Bug was originally designed to imitate a case caddis or caddis larvae, but like many great patterns, it can imitate any number of aquatic insects. The partridge also makes it a crossover pattern in that it can pass for a nymph or emerger. It adds versatility and increases the number of situations in which it will still be effective. It can be bounced on the bottom, suspended, and even swung like a wet fly, and it catches fish wherever trout are found and any time of year.
Where the Zug Bug came from
- Originated by Cliff Zug, 1930, West Lawn, Pennsylvania. 1930s; article ties it to the Catskills. Made to imitate caddis larvae.Source: Southern Wisconsin TU: Zug Bug
- Popularized by Arnold Gingrich, 1965. Promoted in The Well Tempered Angler (1965) and The Joys of Trout (1973).Source: Southern Wisconsin TU: Zug Bug
Where sources tell it differently, each account is listed with its own source.
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