July Freshwater Fly of the Month: Crystal Bugger Black Beadhead
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July Freshwater Fly of the Month: Crystal Bugger Black Beadhead |
The
Wooly Bugger fly pattern has to be one of the most productive streamer
patterns to ever be created. Over the last few decades the wooly bugger
style of flies have without a doubt accounted for more and larger fish
being duped than with any other freshwater fly. The main reason for the
wooly bugger’s great success is its ability to be adapted to catch
virtually any fresh water fish that exists and to be used in all the
different water conditions that may occur. From trout to bass, rivers to
spring fed lakes the wooly bugger can just about do it all. The Crystal
Bugger fly pattern is a relatively new addition to the wooly bugger
family.
Simple
enough the crystal bugger boasts a flashy estaz body instead of the
traditional chenille to spice things up a bit. This added flash coupled
with the undulating action produced by the marabou tail in the water
makes this fly a definite steelhead spring time favorite. Another of the
key features of this fly is the Spirit River metallic bead head. This
bead head provides the fly with the necessary weight to get it down on
the bottom of those big deep pools where the big steelies like to hang
out.
Fishing the bead head crystal bugger is relatively simple. If you are
going to be fishing very cold weather cast this pattern to your target
and let it dead drift drag-free down the river. Fish that are in these
very cold temperatures become very lackadaisical and will not
aggressively search out and chase down prey. Providing a slow subtle
presentation with the crystal bugger will help keep your fly in the
fish’s strike zone for longer providing you with a better chance of
hooking into quality fish. In summer these same lazy fish will now be
ready for a more active and rapid approach. Continuously stripping in
the wooly pattern will have the head-heavy fly dancing up and down in
the water column driving the fish wild.