Myth Busters Needed

[zander]

I might have to call Jamie and Adam on this one, but I'll go to you guys first. The woolly booger is one of the most popular flies ever. Word on the creek (pun intended) says that it can catch all kinds of fish in all kinds of conditions. I haven't been fly fishing all that long but I have never caught anything on a w.b. I have fished them fast, fished them slow, fished them in shallow riffles and in the deeper holes. I have never even gotten a hit on them.

Either the woolly booger is a myth, or I must be fishing them completely wrong. Where and how do you guys typically fish them? I have fished them like a streamer, stripping it back to me. I know it is supposed to be an idiot proof fly but without having to degrade myself further and call myself one, I can't seem to get them to work. What is going on?

[Thom]

Zander:

Don't be to quick to judge yourself. My son kills them with wollies and I am in the same boat as you. I think that the problem is I have so many other go to's that I just give up too soon. I will try midges, hairs ears, micro jigs, and various egg flys for hours changing until..........walla I have found the one that works.

With wollies i give up to easilly.

I am looking forward to some of the experts to tell us the secret. I have seen them work and heard anglers that I know catch fish in waders not in their dreams say so.

SO LET THE EDUCATION BEGAN...........IN THE WORDS OF MICKEY MOUSE...."I am all ears" Maybe no brains though.

[Danoinark]

I don't use them very often, but have caught fish on them, and all species too.

I primarily fish them in deeper runs and slow pools. I also like little or no weight on them because I think that makes them look more life like. One trick that I have used that may have increased more strikes is to use a more soft hackle, like hen instead of the standard dry fly hackle when dressing them. The soft hackle's undulating feathers are more an attractant. I find that wooley's tied in size 10 and 12 have been more productive for me.

Dano

[Fishing Milwright]

I am glad to know that I am not the only one that does't catch fish on wooly buggers. I have tied them all kinds of ways and have not had much luck in catching fish with them. Several books and lots of individuals say that they are the #1 fly for catching fish. But I always have more luck with wet flys - salmon eggs - maribow jigs.

[Kansas Fly Fisher]

I've had moderate success with the wooly, but, it's not my "go to" fly by far. I've found the best success for me is to strip it back in like a streamer. I'll mix up the retrieve with a long strip followed by a pause then two or three short strips followed by another pause.

John

[Gavin]

I usually cast em up and dead drift them, twitch em on the swing when the fly starts to drag then recast..Most of my strikes come on the dead drift. Cheers.

[JobyKSU]

I'll second the smaller buggers. I actually like a small bit of weight in the head of mine Key for me is a pretty darn slow retrieve - maybe one quick 3 inch jerk every 4 or 5 seconds.

It seems like I do better on overcast days or in shady pools with them. I've never had one of the fish-every-cast days that you sometimes get with other methods, but it may be because they're one of the last things to go on the line after everything else has been tried out

[Danoinark]

they're one of the last things to go on the line after everything else has been tried out

Good point Joby. I sometimes will just end the day with a bugger. Actually I have caught a few fish just trolling them as I wade back to the access.

Dano

[fishinwrench]

I was in love with WB's for a long time, especially #10 blk/olive (it always produced). Then came the Mohair leech phase...which evolved into the Pine Squirrel leech phase. I used to do really well with WB's but I can't anymore, although others still do it seems.

I think it is a confidence issue.

[3wt]

I have caught fish on them, but not a whole lot.

I tie them for my dad, and he can't get enough of them. He tends to sight fish more, kind of like if you were using a maribou jig and a spinning rod.

Maybe that's the catch, you have to be a recent convert from spin fishing to get them to work.