Leeches and Woolly Buggers

When there’s no obvious hatch to match, leech patterns and Woolly Buggers give you a versatile way to search for feeding fish. Our Leeches and Woolly Buggers collection brings together subsurface flies for exploring lakes, ponds, and rivers, whether you’re targeting trout along a weed edge or working a promising stretch of moving water.

In stillwater, use a countdown to explore different depths, then try a slow hand-twist retrieve or short strips with pauses. Around drop-offs and shoreline cover, vary your retrieve until you find the speed fish respond to. In rivers, swing your fly across current seams, strip it along softer edges, or dead-drift it through likely holding water. Adjust your line and fly weight to reach the feeding zone without constantly catching bottom.

Keep leeches and Woolly Buggers ready for days that call for covering water, experimenting with movement, and giving fish a substantial subsurface offering.