Ask a hundred grizzled anglers this question and you're likely to hear one name pop up more than any other: The Woolly Bugger. In terms of sheer pounds of trout tricked, the Woolly Bugger ranks as a serious contender for the title of all-time champ.
What does it imitate? Some say a baitfish. Others argue a nymph or a crayfish. Then again, perhaps it mimics a hot dog laden with condiments. The important thing is that it works.
When dry flies or nymphs won't produce, tie on a Woolly Bugger and swing it through a juicy-looking run. Retrieve your line with quick six-inch strips and brace yourself for an electrifying strike. Your odds of a catch increase if you fish Buggers during the low-light periods just before dawn and just after sunset.
As for sizes and colors, you've got a wide spectrum to choose from, but it's hard to go wrong with #10s and #12s in classic black. And a bonus: It's one of the easiest patterns to tie.
In the wild world of outdoor recreation, fishing may take the lion's share of the sheer number of little bits and pieces you should bring along for even a daylong outing—and fishing enthusiasts, forever in love with the wide variety of flies, wouldn't have it any other way. Accordingly, what appears below is the packing list for a daylong outing. Combine this list with one of our other lists—sea kayaking, canoeing, backpacking, car camping—if you're aiming to get deeper into the wilderness.
Cold-Weather Clothing
Microfiber or wool long underwear (top and bottom)
Midweight fleece jacket
Breathable wading jacket or rain jacket
Wool hat or wind-blocking fleece hat (balaclava for really cold weather)
Neoprene fingerless gloves (improves dexterity)
Heavyweight wool socks
Waders (neoprene or breathable with fleece pants)
Wading boots
Warm-Weather Clothing
Brimmed hat
Microfiber casting shirt (or other light and cool shirt)
Microfiber shorts
Lightweight merino wool socks
Breathable waders
Wading boots (or wading sandals for "wet wading" when it's really warm)
Fishing Gear
Rod and rod tube
Reel
Line
Flies
Fly boxes
Leaders
Spools of tippet (sizes 3X-6X common)
Floatant
Wading belt
Wading staff (for stability in strong currents)
Fishing vest or pack
Net (with soft nylon mesh for safe catch and release)
Quick-release lanyard for net
Polarized sunglasses and floating security line
Headlamp, pinch light, or small flashlight
Nippers
Forceps
Stream thermometer
Strike indicators
Zingers (allows for quick access to tools)
Camera (waterproof, single-use variety is an economical option)
Sunscreen
Insect repellent
Water bottles/hydration pack
Fishing-specific bag or pack with waterproof compartment for boots, mesh bag for waders, reel pockets, etc.
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