HOW TO TIE THE RED COLLAR BUZZER

Time Well Spent April 19, 2023

Fishing a team of Buzzers effectively is all about control. Being in control of how your flies are moved is important in all aspects of trout fishing, but the effect is magnified when those flies are tied to imitate something small that hardly moves at all. Success relies on understanding the depth at which the fly fishes and the speed that it moves. Much of this control is achieved by fishing Buzzers as part of a team. This is because by adjusting the size and weight of the individual patterns they can be used to influence the way other parts of the team work.

HOOK: Size 12-14 standard weight wet fly

THREAD: Black or to suit body colour

BODY: Natural or dyed stripped peacock quill

COLLAR: Small red holographic tinsel

THORAX: Black tying thread

CHEEKS: Dyed orange goose biots

1. Fix hook in vice and run thread down shank in touching turns. Carry thread slightly around bend and catch in a stripped peacock quill.

2. Wind the thread back up the shank in touching turns to form a smooth base for the quill. Apply the quill in touching turns.

3. Keep winding quill until it has covered two-thirds of shank. Secure and trim off loose end of quill and catch in red holographic tinsel.

4. Add two thread wraps to lock in tinsel then wind thread forward a short distance. Apply a few close turns of tinsel to form a collar.

5. Secure end of tinsel then trim off waste. Prepare two orange goose biots and catch them in by their tips either side of the hook.

6. Apply a few layers of thread to build a small but distinct thorax. Draw ends of the goose biots forward and secure at the eye.

7. Lift ends of biots clear of the eye then apply two thread turns directly onto the shank. Carefully trim off waste ends of the biots.

8. Add further thread turns to cover short ends of the biots and to build a small head. Apply a whip finish and add a coat of clear varnish.

9. When the varnish has dried add one or two more coats to create a smooth glossy finish. Alternatively use a clear UV cure resin.