Stillwater streamers

[Kevin James]

Bugger Streamer copy.jpg

This is a pattern that has brought huge success over the years.
It's subtle enough to get attention and really attracts the bigger fish.

Best fished on an intermediate or slow sinker around the weeds or structure.
Also excellent through old river channels and the like.

I add a little cone for weight but the deer hair counter balances that so you have an almost neutral / slightly heavy fly.
Lots of movement with rabbit and marabou and subtle bling with the flash.

Olive/yellow is my go to colour.

All black and purple/black works well too.

Just as a side note, I fished this pattern heavily weighted this last season in NZ on the rivers and fish moved halfway across open water to hammer it. Pretty exciting to see the natural predatory instincts kick in.

Try a couple....

[smallstreams.co.za]

Great stuff guys, thanks SO much for the feedback thus far.

Quick question for the stillwater gurus. After seeing the Jiggy Bugger I was wondering about weight distribution on these flies. Mostly you'd tie them without any weight (except for a bead if any) and fish them on sinkers and intermediates right??

[Korrie]

Hi Korrie I used to have Goldilocks too!

and now, what is left, only the locks or only the Gold?

[Umhlangarox]

Great stuff guys, thanks SO much for the feedback thus far.

Quick question for the stillwater gurus. After seeing the Jiggy Bugger I was wondering about weight distribution on these flies. Mostly you'd tie them without any weight (except for a bead if any) and fish them on sinkers and intermediates right??

I fish most of my flies with a bead head, and from time to time when fishing sinkers and inters I will switch to unweighted. If conditions allow and fish are in the shallows(anything from around 3/4m deep) I will fish with a floating line 100% of the time. I love to fish towards structure, especially when you have fish moving along ledges and in the shallows. Having a trout create a bow wave as they chase your fly through shallow water just can't be beaten.

I really am not a big fan of fishing sinking lines and will only do it when there is no other option. I try to do most of my fishing early winter/autumn and late winter/spring when you generally will find fish in the shallower water which means floating lines. I am not a big fan of fishing in the middle of Winter, I don't find the fishing to be as good.

[smallstreams.co.za]

I fish most of my flies with a bead head, and from time to time when fishing sinkers and inters I will switch to unweighted. If conditions allow and fish are in the shallows(anything from around 3/4m deep) I will fish with a floating line 100% of the time. I love to fish towards structure, especially when you have fish moving along ledges and in the shallows. Having a trout create a bow wave as they chase your fly through shallow water just can't be beaten.

I really am not a big fan of fishing sinking lines and will only do it when there is no other option. I try to do most of my fishing early winter/autumn and late winter/spring when you generally will find fish in the shallower water which means floating lines. I am not a big fan of fishing in the middle of Winter, I don't find the fishing to be as good.

Thanks, great feedback, appreciate it a lot.

I'm in the fortunate position to be about an hour away from all 3 places, so have the luxury to choose good days to go and fish.

[JadeDsantos]

I agree with Matt, I mostly fish floater with some weight - It is usually a bead head with no lead. It does create a nice action in the water on the retrieve. Or an unweighted or lightly weighted patterns on a uniform sink interline if the fish are a bit deeper.

I have honestly never had massive success on jig style flies, more so on big buzzers.

[Gerrit Viljoen]

and now, what is left, only the locks or only the Gold?

The gold to cover the gray..