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Wet fly / Pattern notes

Woolly Worm

A short red tag, chenille body, and grizzly hackle make a compact searching fly.

At the vise
Beginner friendly
Common sizes
#10–14
From hook to fly

At the vise.

4 steps

Follow this base recipe in order. The materials list specifies one hook size; adjust proportions together when tying another size.

  1. Tag

    Cover the shank with thread and tie a short red yarn tag at the bend.

  2. Body

    Attach chenille and wrap forward in touching turns. Secure and trim.

  3. Hackle

    Tie hackle at the front; bring thread to the tail. Spiral hackle back, then wind thread forward through it for reinforcement.

  4. Finish

    Remove excess hackle, whip finish, and cement the head.

Beyond the bench

On the water.

Use a slow retrieve for panfish or a controlled drift for trout. The short tail gives a compact profile.

Tied by independent makers

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Recipe references

Original written instructions adapted from the sources below. Materials and methods may vary between versions.

For the same fly box.

Illustration of a finished Partridge and Orange flyPartridge and OrangeWet fly · #12–18Illustration of a finished Carp Hybrid flyCarp HybridWet fly · #6–10Illustration of a finished Royal Wulff flyRoyal WulffDry fly · #10–16