Strawberry Lake Bugger

by Mark Olinger

I started tying up this pattern in June 2005 for fishing Strawberry Lake after the blockage in it’s drainage was cleared and it filled up from the heavy rains that followed. Brown crystal buggers have always worked for me in lakes that get tea stained in the spring or after a big rain. I figured adding a white calftail wing could only help the fish to see it and they seem to agree. It’s been one of my best flies on the reborn Strawberry Lake in the Turtle Mts. I also had a great day fishing this fly this spring at Northgate Dam in tea stained waters so it’s not a one-day wonder. I had about 50 hits on it, hooked about 35 – 40, and landed 22 or 23 rainbows with the largest going 24 inches.

 I’m sure I’m not the only person to strap a wing onto a Woolly Bugger, I know I did it 20 years ago when I first started tying them. This is the first combo that’s worked for me and I’ve caught enough fish on it now so I had to give it a name. Here’s the recipe:

Hook: 2XL or 3XL sizes 4 – 8

Rib: Copper wire reverse wound through the hackle

Hackle: Brown

Body: Brown olive crystal chenille

Wing: White calftail