StreamerbeginnerSoutheast & Carolinas
Woolly Bugger
$4.50
Available Sizes#6 - #12
Color Variations
BlackOliveBrownWhite
Russell Blessing tied the first Woolly Bugger to imitate a hellgrammite, which means this fly's origin story is already more interesting than most. In the Southeast, it does everything: it is a sculpin in the Davidson River, a leech in the South Holston, a crayfish on the New River, and a general offense against trout dignity wherever it is fished. The marabou tail pulses in the current with the breathing action that turns a simple strip retrieve into a predatory event. If forced to fish one fly for the rest of your life in the Southeast, this is the correct answer.
Quick Facts
TypeStreamer
Difficultybeginner
SeasonsSpring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Target SpeciesBrown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Smallmouth Bass
Sizes#6 - #12
Best LocationsSouth Holston River, TN; Davidson River, NC; New River, WV
Where to Fish It
South Holston River
TN · Tailwater
Davidson River
NC · Mountain Freestone
New River
WV · Freestone River
Map unavailable. Locations for Woolly Bugger: South Holston River, TN; Davidson River, NC; New River, WV
Related Reading
region guide
Southeast: From Smokies Brookies to Lowcountry Reds
The American Southeast spans an extraordinary gradient — from native brook trout in the cold headwaters of Great Smoky Mountains National Park to sight-casting for tailing redfish in the spartina grass of the Lowcountry. This is the guide to fishing both ends of that spectrum and everything in between.
seasonal playbook
The Fall Guide: Changing Seasons, Changing Tactics
Fall is when the fishing world rearranges itself. Brown trout become aggressive and territorial as spawning urges override caution. Steelhead push into Pacific Northwest rivers on autumn rain. Striped bass blitz baitfish along the Northeast coast. And trout streams that were too warm in August cool into prime condition. Here's how to fish every opportunity the changing season offers.
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