Woolly Bugger

[Jay Looper]

I know that the woolly bugger is classified as a streamer fly pattern. However, I have read that you can swing it down and across as a wet fly or use it in a dead-drift nymph setup. I was wondering if anyone could make any comments as to when these situations are optimal with the bugger or at least tell me if my assumptions are wrong and why that is.

Thanks
AA

[Mark Hanes]

you are correct you can use the Wooly bugger as a nymph or swing it like a wet fly.  dead drifting it would look like an injured bait fish or a large nymph like a stone fly.  Sculpin patterns also work well dead drifted right on the bottom.  Swingind is really just another way to work it like a minnow it appears to be swiming in the current on the swing and you can strip line or rasie and lower your rod to add action to the fly. 

[Dejon Hamann]

I often fish a heavily weighted tungsten bead wolly bugger as a point fly in a Euro Nymphing setup.  It's just a great trigger fly with lots of room to hide lead.

[Jay Looper]

Sorry, but what do you mean by point or trigger fly? While we are at it - any quick definition of Euro and/or Czech nymphing would be great or if not please point me to a good resource about them if you can.
Thanks
AA

[Jeremy Allan]

A trigger fly or target fly is the fly you are actually banking on as opposed to the heavier fly that is more for weight than for fishing although most weighted flies are tied to catch fish. I use a Big T in different colors as my trigger fly most of the time. I designed it to trigger strikes and is very effective. They will usually take it on the first drift
most of the time.

I teach a Czech/Polish nymphing clinic and I can't give you a short explanation but I'll try to sum it up by saying that you are nymphing without an indicator using weighted flies and slightly pulling or leading your flies to stay in contact with them. You feel the hits rather than watch for them. Czech nymphing is mainly a pocket water and small deep run technique and Polish nymphing is more of a slower high sticking technique.They are advanced nymphing techniques that takes a lot of practice to become efficient but once you begin "feeling" for trout you'll never look back.

[Dejon Hamann]

Sorry, but what do you mean by point or trigger fly? While we are at it - any quick definition of Euro and/or Czech nymphing would be great or if not please point me to a good resource about them if you can.
Thanks
AA

Just to elaborate a bit on Rivers answer:

"Point Fly" - The end fly in a multiple fly rig (the others are tied inline or on droppers).

"Trigger Fly" - Or sometimes just "Triggers" are certain color, flash, or form parts of a fly meant to induce a take rather than imitate a certain food source. 

"Czech Nymphing" - Using multiple weighted flies in a short line/quick drift fashion.  Usually 2-3 second drifts conducted all upstream of the angler with a slight pulling motion and less than 2 feet of fly line out the tip of rod.

"Euro Nymphing" - A term used to refer to the general collection of European Short Line Nymphing techniques usually comprising some version of Czech, Polish, or French Nymphing.

[Allen Bole]

Guys
I am looking for some advice on tying a Thin Mint, my tail looks like a squirrel tail all it needs is two big nuts hanging down. My question is does the tail have to be thin or big like a Wooley Bugger, thanks for your guys help on this.

[Mark Hanes]

Allen,

I have never tied them but this link has a few options for the tail that night help you.

http://swittersb.wordpress.com/2009/02/12/thin-mint-woolly-bugger-along-the-weedlines-and-lily-pads/

[Allen Bole]

Thanks Mark for the link there tail is thin.

[Frank Andrescavage]

Jeremy

I never heard of a Big T fly, is that the name of the fly or short for something.
Thanks

[Mike Nutto]

i would have to say the wooly is on of the most versitile flys you can use .dont forget it in lake and ive even greased them up before with floatant and caught fish no joke