Fishing Woollys From Upstream

[mic]

I realize the woolly is pretty much an idiot proof fly, but can you fish a woolly when your upstream of a hole? I've heard trout do not like things that swim against the current. My casting skills (or lack there of) make it easier in some tight holes to let fly drift in, i.e., under tree branches into the root ball. I realize I might lose a couple that way, but I need the practice tying. Please advise.

[flytyer57]

I realize the woolly is pretty much an idiot proof fly, but can you fish a woolly when your upstream of a hole? I've heard trout do not like things that swim against the current. My casting skills (or lack there of) make it easier in some tight holes to let fly drift in, i.e., under tree branches into the root ball. I realize I might lose a couple that way, but I need the practice tying. Please advise.

My favorite method of fishing a woollybugger is to cast across and down. I let it swing in the current like fising a wet fly. When it gets directly below me, I let it hang for a couple seconds and make several short strips before picking up for another cast. Every time I use this metod I catch fish.

I've already caught fish by swinging a bugger downstream and let it sit there while lighting up a cigarette. Had fish hit the bugger while it was just hanging there.

[Hopper]

I realize the woolly is pretty much an idiot proof fly, but can you fish a woolly when your upstream of a hole? I've heard trout do not like things that swim against the current. My casting skills (or lack there of) make it easier in some tight holes to let fly drift in, i.e., under tree branches into the root ball. I realize I might lose a couple that way, but I need the practice tying. Please advise.

Drift it under an indicator, or just as you described, sometimes it looks like an easier meal if it looks injured.

[mic]

My favorite method of fishing a woollybugger is to cast across and down. I let it swing in the current like fising a wet fly. When it gets directly below me, I let it hang for a couple seconds and make several short strips before picking up for another cast. Every time I use this metod I catch fish.

I've already caught fish by swinging a bugger downstream and let it sit there while lighting up a cigarette. Had fish hit the bugger while it was just hanging there.

The holes/runs I'm talking about are 3 or 5 feet wide and 4 to 6 feet long so there really is no "swing" to speak of. Basically, the holes are composed of a riffle pinched up against a bank with a washed out root ball of a medium to large tree. If you start from below, the line will wrap around a root, and if you start from the side the fly isn't really in the water long enough to impart good action or you scare the fish. I'm wanting to stand above the hole in the riffle and drop the fly in the water and feed line until I think it is in the hole, and then slowly (but with a lot of action) pull the woolly back against the current. Everything I've read says that fish won't take a fly swimming against the current. Sometimes the books are right.

[flytyer57]

The holes/runs I'm talking about are 3 or 5 feet wide and 4 to 6 feet long so there really is no "swing" to speak of. Basically, the holes are composed of a riffle pinched up against a bank with a washed out root ball of a medium to large tree. If you start from below, the line will wrap around a root, and if you start from the side the fly isn't really in the water long enough to impart good action or you scare the fish. I'm wanting to stand above the hole in the riffle and drop the fly in the water and feed line until I think it is in the hole, and then slowly (but with a lot of action) pull the woolly back against the current. Everything I've read says that fish won't take a fly swimming against the current. Sometimes the books are right.

What you are describing should work. A bugger fished in this method would imitate a minnow to a fish, and they will attack it if it gets too close and then tries to escape.

[Flysmallie]

Sometimes the books are right.

And sometimes they are not. Part of the fun is getting out and trying different things, what have you got to lose.

I know this technique works for smallmouth.

[mic]

And sometimes they are not. Part of the fun is getting out and trying different things, what have you got to lose.

I know this technique works for smallmouth.

I was going to try for smallmouth this summer...I'll have to remember that. Thanks.

[Al Agnew]

Yeah, I'd say forget about the old saw that fish don't like something moving upstream. Biggest problem you can have with fishing a wooly upstream is that the current keeps it up too high in the water column. The fish don't really care about which direction it's swimming. And if you're using a streamer that imitates a minnow, well, minnows always keep their heads pointed upstream, even if they are letting the current drift them downstream.

[stlfisher]

I would say there is no wrong way to fish a Bugger. I have caught plenty of fish stripping against the current. As mentioned above the only downside to stripping against the current is your fly will hold near the surface unless you have a lot of weight. I like two short strips, pause, and repeat.

[Gavin]

Try the Morgan twitch....

http://www.troutrods.com/morgantwitch.html