The wooly bugger is arguably the best-known fly pattern in the world, often the first fly a beginning fly fisherman ties and fishes. It is easy to tie, easy to fish and remarkably effective for a ...

As winter creeps in it often means a drop in opportunity for fly fishermen. That depends on where you live, of course, but for many of us, river time becomes vise time. If you’re new to fly tying, ...

Leary recommends starting with a wooly bugger, a simple wet fly with materials large enough to get your fingers around. If you get fed up, just think: Spring is almost here. And if you’re willing to ...

THE WOOLY BUGGER IS A COMMON FLY that is a standard pattern for most fly fishermen. Few flies possess the versatility of the wooly bugger and because of this quality, it's the one fly that I need to ...

For many anglers, the arrival of winter ushers in a season of rest and recovery. But for those of us who pursue steelhead, winter is not the time for taking a break. It’s a time to spend long days on ...

Time was, mid-February saw the avid fly fisherman gnawing the bars of winter, waiting for April the way a caged lion waits for dinner. If he had nimble fingers and a good sense of color he might ...

Step 6. Shape your wooly bugger’s head by wrapping thread around the head of the fly near the hook’s eye. Don’t go back too far – you don’t want to cover too much of the body with excess thread. Some ...