Ostrich Herl Buzzer
The Ostrich Herl Buzzer is a subtle, elegant fly that punches far above its weight—especially when rainbow trout are keyed in on midges and nymphs. It’s a pattern that rewards patience, precision, and a bit of faith in the quiet magic of natural materials.
There’s something almost meditative about tying and fishing the Ostrich Herl Buzzer. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t scream for attention. But in the right conditions—especially on stillwaters or lochs where trout are sipping emergers just beneath the surface—it can be absolutely deadly.
At its heart, the fly is a minimalist’s dream: a slim profile, a touch of iridescence, and the soft, breathing movement of ostrich herl. The version tied by Bruce Banks, for instance, uses a natural grey ostrich mini plume for both tail and body, ribbed with extra fine copper wire for just a hint of segmentation and flash. It’s typically tied on a size 16 nymph hook with a small black tungsten bead to help it sink slowly and stay in the feeding zone.
What makes this buzzer so effective is its lifelike translucency and motion. Ostrich herl, when wet, pulses with every twitch of the line or drift of the current. It mimics the delicate movement of chironomid pupae—those tiny, wriggling midges that trout gorge on in spring and early summer.