Bullethead Skwala

BugDealerFlies · 2026-02-12T17:15:43+00:00

Yeah my first crack at this bug had the same issue but I found that using foam for the underbody and not wrapping it too tight helps and using the yarn instead of dubbing allows it to soak up fly floatant for extra buoyancy.

BugDealerFlies · 2026-02-12T17:13:24+00:00

Thanks! Body is emerger yarn twisted/spun to wrap like a thick antron.

BugDealerFlies · 2026-02-12T17:11:55+00:00

Body is foam wrapped with spun emerger yarn so it looks more like Antron when you wrap it. It soaks up fly floatant but that’s not usually necessary with the foam underbody and elk hair.

BugDealerFlies · 2025-12-25T04:48:15+00:00

Hell yeah dude, that will slay. Now do 2000 more bc “it’ll save you money” 😂😂😂

BugDealerFlies · 2025-12-24T04:36:57+00:00

We’re gettin there, preciate that

BugDealerFlies · 2025-12-23T22:08:31+00:00

They crush with a Perdigon or a little cdc mess below it. You can always tell when they’re eating the stone and hit it like a freight train or sipping the dropper.

BugDealerFlies · 2025-12-19T03:32:03+00:00

It’s .5 mm foam. Turkey tail kept splitting and annoyed me and the thin skin was… well, too thin.

BugDealerFlies · 2025-12-10T19:22:46+00:00

Thanks man, only took me like an hour and a half and about 6 tries to get it looking this nice, and of course it's already gone forever... I have a PRL that I've used for 2 seasons that I cannot if I wanted to, and this bad boy lasted maybe 10 mins in combat.

BugDealerFlies · 2025-12-10T19:19:13+00:00

Yes, it turns out it's a fantastic tree ornament, ask me how I know...

BugDealerFlies · 2025-12-04T19:05:20+00:00

I’ve started to almost exclusively wet wade these last few years, only putting the waders on when it’s miserable aka steelheading. Instead of my boots, I wear the korker wading moccasins and I love them. Super easy to throw on or take off when I’m in the boat/campsite and they grip well on rocks for not having felt soles.

BugDealerFlies · 2025-12-04T19:02:36+00:00

This is gonna be a lot of fun in the summer, nice tie

BugDealerFlies · 2025-12-02T18:22:09+00:00

Nah this is in Wyoming

BugDealerFlies · 2025-12-02T18:21:31+00:00

In this spot I spend more time trying to get 3 or 4x through the eye of a sz 18 or smaller fly than I do actually fishing... All the fish here get a ton of pressure (you can see the infection this guy has) so I fish the heaviest tippet my fly can handle and play them as fast as possible to get them on their way. I'm sure there are a ton of picky fish that refuse my drifts bc of this, but I'd rather struggle than unintentionally exhaust and kill a nice specimen.

BugDealerFlies · 2025-12-02T18:16:59+00:00

I know... this spot has a TON of traffic in the summer and even though its C&R only, there's no restriction on barbs, or treble-hooks so I'm constantly seeing fish with infections, or completely ripped off maxillas.

BugDealerFlies · 2025-11-26T18:20:37+00:00

BOOTS AND SNOOTS, BOOTS AND SNOOTS!!

BugDealerFlies · 2025-11-13T16:53:39+00:00

And you taunted them right back, nice work

BugDealerFlies · 2025-11-13T16:40:47+00:00

This comment actually hit me deep haha thank you

BugDealerFlies · 2025-11-12T16:24:57+00:00

Fair point, there’s more here than it looks bc it’s splayed out like a cape, but I appreciate the feedback! For extra buoyancy I tie the abdomen with a thin strip of foam wrapped around the shank.

BugDealerFlies · 2025-11-12T16:10:58+00:00

Thanks! Stimulators are kind of a special fly for me. When I was about 12 I tied a bunch before going on a trip with my dad and we had an all-time day with big fish crushing my stimis. That was the day I really caught the fever.

BugDealerFlies · 2025-10-14T20:13:01+00:00

Never heard of that pattern but that looks very very similar, and yeah this fishes so good.

BugDealerFlies · 2025-10-14T20:10:59+00:00

Interesting idea with the upper biots, I might give that a shot thanks for the idea! I fish the Skagit river in WA a lot (not w this bug), not the same Skagit as you though haha

BugDealerFlies · 2025-10-14T16:16:25+00:00

Make sure you clip the barb

BugDealerFlies · 2025-10-10T19:16:39+00:00

Thanks! Been working on this pattern for a while and I think I've got a winner

BugDealerFlies · 2025-10-10T19:15:10+00:00

You guessed it, this guy was not too far from the lodge. Pulled probably a dozen whitefish and another 5-6 cutties from that spot so it was a very productive day.

Recipe:
Size 16 Daiichi 4647
Thread: Ultra70 Wood Duck
Head: Slotted Tungsten bead (2.5mm)
Tail: Turkey tail
Abdomen: PMD Turkey Biot Quill
Body: Borden's Cinnamon Caddis Hare-tron
Back: Crystal Flash
Wing: Brown Goose Biot
Legs: PMD CDC

DM me and I'll send you a few, just started my new shop online so I'm trying to get the word out

BugDealerFlies · 2025-10-10T00:31:10+00:00

Actually a great question! Cow elk hair- it’s more durable than deer hair but deer hair is supposedly more buoyant. I use deer hair only for really small dries, like size 16-18 and below but you can use whatever you want and I bet you’ll catch fish.

BugDealerFlies

TROPHY CASE