Warning: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is deprecated, use preg_replace_callback instead in ..../includes/class_bootstrap.php(430) : eval()'d code on line 106
Warning: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is deprecated, use preg_replace_callback instead in ..../includes/class_bbcode.php on line 2962 Woolly Buggers 2009
Fishing a lake for brook trout on woolly buggers taught me a lot yesterday. Probably things like...
1. lead them up more (save a few light for slow but the sink rate was very slow even on some I thought were heavy.
2. there is no bad color (although there are certainly some better colors ....)
3. don't rush (I think I was fishing them too fast before)
4. take a moment and watch the action (I am sure most of you know to do this, but I had never before, and it taught me a lot)
Still learning, hating the learning, curve but loving the class both on line and in the "lab"!
Steve
PS - I wanted to post something on the streamers section anyway.
03-22-2009, 11:31 PM
nutman
Re: Woolly Buggers 2009
i just took a class on lake fishing ,vary your retrieve was the thing of the day
03-23-2009, 08:20 AM
wwelz
Re: Woolly Buggers 2009
I like fishing unweighted flies in lakes and ponds with intermediate or fast sinking lines depending on the depth of the water. I use the countdown method to find the fish and vary the retrieve. A quick movement of the fly followed by no movement at all sometimes provokes a strike
03-23-2009, 09:37 AM
AaronJasper
Re: Woolly Buggers 2009
Varying your retrive is good and all but the real key is remembering what you were doing when the fish took your fly!
03-23-2009, 10:48 AM
sholgate
Re: Woolly Buggers 2009
"remembering what you were doing when the fish took your fly! "
Wow, I try so hard to remember and even document WHY and HOW I just took a fish not just with what etc... I started to take pictures of nearly all of the landed trout so I can remember WHAT I took them on, but what exactly what was I doing, in what type of water, hatches, species, and the list could go on. That is when I start to really grow as a angler.
03-23-2009, 03:06 PM
LopatNympher
Re: Woolly Buggers 2009
I've never fished buggers before but I am probably going to try them out in the Delaware now that the season is closed in the streams for a couple weeks. From what I have read, I should fish them across and slightly downriver and strip it in, staying tight to the fly so I can feel the strike. When there is faster water between me and the fly let the current create a downstream belly in the line and strip it back. The fly will be upstream from the belly of line and will be pulled downstream as I strip, which would be more natural of a wounded minnow. Am I on the right page here?
03-23-2009, 05:40 PM
VTflyfishing
Re: Woolly Buggers 2009
There is no wrong way to fish the woolly bugger. Just give it a little life and you should catch fish.
Sometimes dead drifting buggers produce's results.
I am really beginning to like the buggers. Today it was windy, muddy, and opening day in SE PA and a good part of the morning I was trying everything to no success. But then I tried a varigated red and yellow bugger with a black tail and I hooked up with 5 'bows within an hour. Maybe instead of my "last chance" bug, maybe I will begin include buggers as one of my "go to" flies.
04-05-2009, 05:48 AM
wwelz
Re: Woolly Buggers 2009
Has anyone been susessfull using buggers euro-nymphing as the anchor fly ? I have tried many times with no luck. Maybe I am doing something wrongf.
04-05-2009, 06:13 AM
alanb_ct
Re: Woolly Buggers 2009
They have too much drag to sink effectively.
04-05-2009, 01:11 PM
sholgate
Re: Woolly Buggers 2009
[quote author=alanb_ct link=topic=2792.msg21170#msg21170 date=1238926409]
They have too much drag to sink effectively.
[/quote]
I agree, but tying a size 18 or so midge or rainbow warrior on the bend has produced for me, even on some more "seasoned fish" and wild trout.
04-05-2009, 05:21 PM
alanb_ct
Re: Woolly Buggers 2009
sholgate: wwelz asked whether wooly buggers could be effective for Euro nymphing, and by that, I think he means as an anchor. My comment is directed towards that method of rigging. Wooly buggers have a thick palmered hackle and that makes them flutter and sink slowly due to drag. They are great flies, but probably not the best anchor, where the intent is to use that anchor to sink other flies (droppers) in the column. The rigging you describe is a great one too, but not rigged up in the traditional Euro way (not that there's anything wrong with that). Lots of people rig pheasant tails or small nymphs off the bend of a wooly bugger and have banner days.
04-05-2009, 07:53 PM
wwelz
Re: Woolly Buggers 2009
Thank You for the reply Alan . Yes I was referring to using a bugger as the anchor
04-05-2009, 08:18 PM
sholgate
Re: Woolly Buggers 2009
:) The "I agree" meant, I was agreeing Alen that it would not be a good anchor for a traditional euro style rig because of the drag. I guess I should have been a bit more specific.
04-10-2009, 12:57 PM
ErnieBall
Re: Woolly Buggers 2009
I love fishing buggers --- they are the one fly that will catch ANY fish - not just trout -- white is my favorite color most of the time
also, if you havent tried micro-buggers, those are fun too ;)
04-30-2009, 12:49 PM
Dr. BlueDun
Re: Woolly Buggers 2009
The Woolly B in all of it's shapes and forms from generic ad infinitum---is still the greatest go-to fly regardless where and what you are fishing. Bass love it, so do Pickerel and Black Crappie. I always have a dozen or so in all sorts of colors and additives in my fly box. ::)
