The Woolly Bugger has remained a popular fly for a reason, due to its ability to imitate leeches, crayfish, damselflies, and small baitfish. This bite-sized version has the added bonus—if you choose—of a brightly colored bead that gives it the qualities of another highly effective pattern, the egg-sucking leech.

Originally, this fly was developed to target high country cutthroat and brook trout in alpine lakes. For whatever reason, black and orange drive the brookies crazy and the cutthroat can’t help but consistently eat the purple and chartreuse variant. That’s not to say the opposite isn’t true some days and that every variant of this fly has been successful at the headwaters of our favorite creeks and rivers. Despite its original intent, don’t sleep on this fly as a stand-in for a leech regardless of the type of water you’re fishing. It’ll work.

Our favorite ways to fish it: 

• Stripped in stillwater or dead drifted under an indicator

• Under a large dry fly or anywhere on your nymph rig

Type of Water: Rivers, Creeks, Stillwater, High Alpine Lakes 

Imitates: Leech 

Target Species: Cutthroat Trout, Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout

Insect Life Stage: n/a

Pair it with: Chironomid Larva, Chironomid Pupa, Ol’ Dirty Worm, Crackleback Midge, Green Machine, Hot Wire CDC