Anokpeas' Bugger

It’s human nature to make lists, and we rank everything from influential world leaders to sports bloopers. What makes rankings debatable, and interesting, is that we all have our own criteria and opinions. Fly fishermen are no exceptions. We all rate our own favorite flies in a multitude of categories; favorite attractors, dry flies, streamers, etc. One very valuable list would be most versatile flies. What would it take for a fly to make your list of most versatile? Many common choices come to mind for me: the Adams, Hare’s Ear, and a soft-hackled fly, for example. Each of these flies is commonly thought of as a trout fly, but in actuality one characteristic that makes each versatile is they are effective for many species. They are also consistent producers around the world and throughout the seasons if there is open water to present a fly. These are certainly valuable characteristics of a versatile fly. How useful would a fly be if it imitated a food source available around the world, year round, and relished by many species of fish? The prey item I’m thinking of is the Wooly Bugger and is probably the single most successful and versatile ‘big fish' pattern - ever. 

My first smallie using the Anokpeas' Bugger on Sugar Creek, August 2010.

It could be argued, with much legitimacy, that a Wooly Bugger is the single most successful fly pattern in history; especially as the fly's antecedents conceivably date back several hundred years.  It is an extremely effective and versatile pattern to use; imitating a plethora of food sources, including stoneflies, caddis, bait fish, crayfish, damsel nymphs, dragonfly nymphs, and even certain mayfly larve.  Commercial bugger patterns, in one form or another, can be found in virtually any shop or outlet which sells fishing flies.  Frankly, I don't know any flyfisher which doesn't at least carry some ‘buggers' - (even if they don't admit to using them.)

However, my good friend and consummate fly angler Jonah, a.k.a. Anokpeas, created a smaller-sized bead-chained wooly bugger variant pattern for the wily smallmouth bass found on the North Branch Susquehanna and Chemung Rivers. 






















Anokpeas hamming it up for the camera. 

I’ve tweaked his smaller bugger pattern and 'super-sized' it for fishing for the trophy sized bass and trout found in my local waters. I’ve used this pattern since mid-summer of 2010 with major success and after a good six months of testing it out, I offer it up to you as a true staple of my personal fly-box. This fly was popular among smallmouth fly fishers in the upper North Branch Susquehanna River who like to catch BIG FISH.   The XL bead-chain eyes give it a mid-water column presentation with an impression of bulk and size but it is very easy and light to cast.  If this pattern doesn't have smallmouth bass written all over it... then nothing does.  It's got everything a bass wants!  

Marabou?  YEP.
Flash?  YEP.
Glitter 'Ice' Chenille?  YEP.
Soft Plastic Grub Tail?  YEP.
Silicone Silly Legs? YEP.
Baitfish Profile?  YEP.

I'll divulge the secrets in this versatile fly; the breathable marabou blood-quill tail combined with the grub tail, and the spiky psuedo-hackle collar create the illusion of a big profile.  The ice chenille pushes through the water, and creating a cavitation through the water column either when dead drifted or stripped on the retrieve.  My take on this fly is that it is a fly rodder’s answer to the slow-rolled spinnerbait. Tied on a larger gaped hook with a long full grub tail that makes the total fly upwards of 6 to 8 inches long, this fly is easy to see in myriad of water conditions. The similarity to a spinnerbait comes from the ice chenille. Fine fibers push water and emit high frequency vibrations that mimic those produced by a wounded baitfish. Just like the blade of a spinnerbait, this fly calls the fish in with a subtle noise. Dredged along the bottom with long, slow strips punctuated with occasional twitches, this fly was deadly in about four to six feet of water just along the edges of structure, around woody debris in creek mouths, and at other natural shallow ambush sites.
























It isn't just for bass... This Ohio Steelhead was caught in March 2011 on an Olive Anokpeas' Bugger. And yes...  it is heavy enough to cast using spinning gear!!

On the move, the dark colored silicone legs compress to the sides of the fly and when pausing on the strip the psuedo-hackle will move back-and-forth and the legs will bounce back and start to float upwards. Everything about this fly comes alive with motion in the water! I don't think you could fish it wrong if you tried. 

With its bulk, it creates a disturbance when stripped. Later, I experimented with other other colors such as olive, purple, white, and brown on both warm water and cold water fish.  Retrieve this pattern with a jigging-stripping motion. With the rod tip low, lift the tip a foot and include a long strip. Lower the rod tip and pause. Then repeat.

The Anokpeas' Bugger now comes in Purple! 

It has become my favorite color to fish with!