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.

[@robcarr8505]

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

[@andytchir8601]

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

[@patrickdevine1085]

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.

[@charlesaaroncamp8546]

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.

[@annestiffler9939]

My husband swears by them. He's caught so many trout on an olive woolly bugger!

[@charlesaaroncamp8546]

@@annestiffler9939 I'd love to have that option of 'many trout', but glad we have smallmouth here in Chicagoland!

[@annestiffler9939]

@@charlesaaroncamp8546 smallmouth count too!!

[@briantalbot7929]

I've never got any small mouth on wooly buggers only a white zonker

[@charlesaaroncamp8546]

@@briantalbot7929 It's crazy how many times people say "oh yeah, me too, that's all I catch them on" and then others say they have never caught one on them. Seems to be inconsistent responses. I wonder if it's regional or just the way people fish different types of flies. I'm almost always wet wading in warm shallow water. Not sure if that makes a difference based on where one is fishing, but last week my brother in law and I tied on Olive WB and caught about 20 smallies in 2 hours. It's rare to catch that many, for me, but it was all on the same WB fly the whole time. Zonkers are great flies too, of course!

[@annestiffler9939]

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.

[@michaelmcclelland5522]

I've done really well trolling them with one or two split shot earlier in the trout season when they are up in the water column. (Washington State)

[@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 🍺

[@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.

[@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

[@jasongeres8789]

Nice Stuff Dave, I sure miss the Bow!

[@carlmoeller56]

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

[@redburtley6021]

Great video. Thanks!

[@robertcpark]

That’s a cool simple rig.

[@jensenflyfishing]

It's been effective a time or two:)

[@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?

[@JWoodcock]

So much to learn.

[@monikgagnon]

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

[@gonefishinzach7811]

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

[@flowerchild496]

This was a great beginners kit for a great price. kzbin.infoUgkxKRURvLsu9Vvyw7gIuvt8FsApoQNCdz-1 Its given us a huge variety to test out and see what works well and what we like to use. Majority of the flies have stayed together well, but some of the rainbow warriors did unravel after catching a few blue gill. All in all, this was a great kit and are so happy with the purchase and value for money.

[@chrismsfo]

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

[@mattbram]

Will this be effective in Stillwater?

[@dougbarlow3010]

Great information. Thanks

[@jamesshamley6577]

Thank you for the great tips.

[@barchetta7559]

which rod for all around fishing do you like best 3f or 3d also size and weight. THANKS.

[@mgllopez30]

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

[@annestiffler9939]

I was thinking the EXACT same thing - haha

[@timothyp.mcgoeyp.e.4933]

You are either a Dry Fly Guy er Not... I would be Fishing that Hatch and do this Video at another time....

[@icedaft]

See this Birds means it's time for a Dryfly!

[@scottwalton8858]

Do you use sinking tippet with the buggers?

[@williamroyle776]

What weight fly rod are you using?

[@steveidlett7188]

Headed out this weekend...have only nimphed with eggs etc so far, gonna bust out the buggers and see what happens

[@jerrygardner9307]

I enjoyed this and found it informative. However, I would have liked seeing him catch something using these techniques.

[@brendanpowell8759]

where was this taken?

[@tyleryazell4595]

What size rod would it take to turn this??

[@jacobstarr9010]

I like to use two tungsten bead head Woolly Buggers and tie the second one to the bend of the first one.

[@whitetroutchannel]

i add a dropper fly like that when im spinning for sea run browns

[@charlesronk2989]

I have a 5wt rod and real. I am looking to set it up to fish wooly buggers in still water around 15ft deep. I am trying to catch deep weed line crappie. Can anyone suggest a flyline and set up for this.

[@anthonyurbano8605]

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

[@jamesswift819]

Hi! I would probably go with a leader that is either a size up (like 2x) or the same size as the tippet.

[@phoult37]

0x or 1x

[@PaulTenenbaum]

The part that gets to me is the barrel swivel because it reminds of spinning rigs and just looks a little clumsy for my taste. On the other hand, I just had a hard time spelling "barrel" correctly, so who am I to be the one to criticize anyone or anything at this point (just made "anyone" two words as well, instead of one, dang. Sad.

[@JM-lz3pu]

I think this is a lost scene from Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds.

[@whitetroutchannel]

i think ive seen it in the directors cut

[@mallard1875]

What's the best wt. Rod for this set-up.

[@phoult37]

5-6 wt for the double fly rig

[@briantalbot7929]

I'd use a heavier rod like 7

[@mallard1875]

Thanks

[@mallard1875]

@@phoult37 thanks

[@brooktroutangler5917]

you like Orvis stuff.......

[@billruland1494]

What size swivel do you use? Since you could have been using a tippet ring instead, and since you said that the swivel adds weight, it would help if you said the size of the swivel. As an alternative to the swivel, you could use a tippet ring with a split shot so you could vary the weight. Of course, using a swivel in fly fishing is a bit unorthodox, but if it works, and you are still using a fly, go for it. Thanks.

[@KBosch-xp2ut]

It says size 7 on the package in the video.

[@billruland1494]

@@KBosch-xp2ut Thanks. I figured it out too.

[@devinrodgers8474]

Listen to this man and you will catch more and land bigger fish. Or elegantly cast 7x w/size 22 midge dries all winter and catch a few babies - if that’s what you’re into

[@hobbyoftheday4017]

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

[@jensenflyfishing]

Exactly!:)

[@2kslimey]

😂

[@stipicamazar2]

😂

[@marshall6225]

With a zebra midge, it's like double cheat codes

[@BJJandBS]

3x seems a bit big isn't it?

[@ronpenn3751]

Isn't this "double tippeting"? I thought that a no no

[@whitey7686]

the first advice i would give is put the woolly bugger away and match the incredible hatch thats going on right now = look at all those birds eating newly hatched bugs!!!

[@ahti29]

WEAR EYE PROTECTION WHILE FLYFISHING.

[@jakelong7756]

Lol funny guy

[@ahti29]

@@jakelong7756 why?

[@nathanmcchristie3997]

@@jakelong7756 make sure you wear your helmet too just in case

[@vincentdsnt]

Correction on the Title....How to Spin fish with a Fly Rod !

[@keiranrooker7981]

Is that Tom as a young gentleman?

[@tinoyb9294]

If you can't get it done with a single wooly bugger, stay off the water.

[@badgebffr]

Let’s just ignore the big bug hatch going on that the birds are attacking....🤦🏻‍♀️

[@gabeah]

Hard to make a wooolie bugger instructional video if you swap to dry flies, don’t ya think?

[@Abandoned_Brane]

theres no wrong way to fish a bugger.

[@jacksondone3795]

It looks like this guy shot it on an iPhone

[@johnkenny694]

No need for 2 Buggers, its going to take away the Action of the first Bugger and cause Tangles. If there is a feeding fish out there , one Bugger will do.