Overview

The Crystal Bugger Tungsten Jigged builds on Russell Blessing's Woolly Bugger, one of the most versatile flies ever tied, and adds a tungsten bead, a jig hook and crystal flash. It suggests leeches, baitfish and large nymphs, and trout, bass, panfish and stillwater fish all eat it.

The tungsten bead gets it down quickly, and the jig hook rides point up, so you can bounce it along the bottom with fewer snags. Each pause makes it dip like a jig, and the marabou and flash keep moving even when the fly is still. That makes it a fly you can strip, swing, or dead drift on a tight line.

Euro Specs

• Hook: Jig hook, rides point up.
• Role: Point (anchor) fly; size 10 is popular on Euro rigs.

How to Fish It

• Strip and drop: strip it, then pause so the bead pulls it down in a jigging motion.
• Euro rig: dead drift a size 10 on a tight line as the point fly in deep runs.
• Stillwater: slow-strip it near drop-offs and weed edges on a floating or intermediate line.
• Under an indicator: dead drift it through pools and slow runs.

Choosing Color and Size

White reads as a baitfish and stands out in stained water and low light. Purple is a dark, high-contrast color that suggests leeches and works well in low light and off-color water.

Size 6 is for bass, bigger trout and stillwater. Size 10 is the trout and Euro size.