How to Fish Woolly Buggers in Rivers, Part I

This Master Class Monday video by Dave and Amelia Jensen is the first in a three-part series about fishing Woolly Buggers. You might be thinking, "Everybody knows how to fish a Woolly Bugger!" But think again. As Dave explains, this staple pattern can be presented in a variety of different ways to imitate many trout foods. In this video, you might be surprised by the way Dave rigs his tandem-Bugger set up, and his discussion of retrieves may have you re-thinking your own approach.

[Datsick]

I love videos that are short and to the point . Thanks a ton

[A]

Nice to get good instructional video from folks with loads of practical experience. Great work!

[patrickdevine]

Really enjoyed the video. The way you explained every action and the reason for the action was quite easy to understand. You did not over talk like many folk that make vides tend to do. Thanks. I was once told by a Command Sergeant major I once worked for that people that truly know what they are doing will be able to explain every thing they and why in a handful of words and need a book.

[robcarr]

Thank you for making videos like this!! Im going to try that tomorrow. 🙏🙏

[charlesaaroncamp]

Great rig. People make fun of woolies as basic, but nothing produces more consistently for me chasing smallmouth in my neck of the Midwest. Can't wait to try this double-fly setup on local rivers.

[johanfalkmarken]

This truly looks like a quality advice. Thank you! I look forward for trying it. Will use my soon to be 25 year old Orvis Trident rod, still in service.

[Sirskibumsalot]

The stripping tech. You are showing there works on many species ....I basically only like to throw streamers at trout when I'm up in the mountains . I taught myself salt water fly fishing when I got back to the local beaches where I grew up ( San Diego) ....I use the same trout streamer tech. for lagoon fishing for halibut and spotty bass I swing my 4" to 8" inch bugs in the tidal flows and they slam them ....!! Super fun ....ok my 2 cents . Thanks for all the vids ...cheers 🍺

[annestiffler]

This is helpful. I've not yet unlocked the secret of the beloved woolly bugger. I'm looking forward to the next video in this series.

[Charsept]

Wish I watched this a couple days ago. But I did at least catch a few on my little black woolly bugger before I lost in to a snag. A productive pattern even to a novice like me. Now I have a couple more tactics to try next time I'm up in the hills. :D

[jasongeres]

Nice Stuff Dave, I sure miss the Bow!

[carlmoeller]

Wow..he's killing it on the bugger.

[chrismsfo]

I'm so happy they fixed his wader strap about half way through! It was killing me.

[Fisher_Munro]

I'm a west coast fly fisherman. A lot of the streamer swinging I and many of us do around here is for steelhead or salmon. Obviously the setup is different, big two handed rods and heavy flies, but really the idea behind it seems pretty much the same. But when we swing for anadramous fish out here we all pretty much dont give the fly any action at all. Just swing it. I'm curious how that prevailing wisdom juxtaposes with your heavy emphasis on changing up the strip? Or even having a strip at all?

[monikgagnon]

Love your video, great tips, , are your wolly weighted ? con head ? what is your best fly made like ?

[gonefishinzach]

1 woolly bugger plus an indicator is the most fun ive ever had while fly fishing

[matthewcarey]

Is a wooly bugger a good choice in smaller midwestern streams that often have hidden logs underwater? I see this fly getting down quickly and tangled or snagged often.

[tedbuchanan]

Also you can fishing them like bobber and jig for steelhead jig but micro size

[mgllopez]

Looks like the birds were taking advantage of a hatch in the background

[anthonyurbano]

Great video. You said tie a barrel swivel to the end of a 9ft leader. Then 3x tippet. What size is the 9ft leader? Kind of new to fly fishing! Thanks

[hobbyoftheday]

How to fish a wooly bugger... Put it in the water