The Woolly Bugger fishing fly pattern has to be one of the most versatile and productive flies around. The marabou tail and in most cases a palmered body suggest succulent small juvenile bait fish, insect larva, tadpoles or leeches that trout, bass and steelhead devour

WOOLLY BUGGER STREAMER FLY PATTERN. Hook size 10 4 2 - $US each

When to strike whilst fishing a Brown Woolly Bugger fly.

Some trout will make big fuss behind your brown Woolly bugger fly pattern. Seldom, though does a trout just engulf your streamer. Rather like a heat seeking missile, a trout locks onto your woolly bugger. He locks on to the target, homes in on the target and then strikes.

This is the frustrating bit. You will sometimes not know when the trout will strike. A follow can just erupt out of the murk. Trout can give chase for a long period of time but some chose to go onto attack mode almost immediately. Some, for reasons best known to themselves, just seem to get bored with the whole idea, and give up the chase.

Those trout that enjoy chasing the woolly bugger streamer for a very long time don’t know it is an artificial fly. The shape of your fly and the movement in the marabou tail has fooled them into thinking it is the real deal and alive. Keep pulling.

You will, frustratingly, get quite a number of follows to actual hook-ups. I fish for takes. It preserves your sanity. The fish, not you, does the striking bit. When the whole leader, line and rod tip feel heavy, strike then.

Whatever you do, do not make a move to strike when you see that first trout swirl. This is fun fishing not hard core competition fish catching. Take a sense of humour with you along to the water. Have fun but stay safe and keep warm.

CUSTOMER'S COMMENT
We fish for steelheads that run up from Lake Ontario into various tributaries. These are spectacular fish that average 7-12 lbs. These steelhead runs are now larger than those on the Pacific coast. The medium brown woolly buggers are one of the top flies to take these fish on. Because of the small size of the river we swing them on short 5ft polyleaders. The takes are usually arm jolting. Tight Lines, Joe Forte, Ottawa, Canada

CUSTOMER'S COMMENT - BROWN WOOLLY BUGGERS IN AUSTRALIA
In daylight dun hatches are starting, a little late as we move to summer with colder weather than usual. Caddis on dark. Fish to 5lb. Brown and rainbows. Other waters are producing fish on red spinners and in one case a good fish on a brown woolly bugger. Thanks for your assistance with the flys. Best wishes, Erich SInkis, Ballarat, Australia

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