Morning,

Firstly, a quick apology - this email was supposed to go out to you yesterday - sorry it's late - I got too caught up in our prep for the BFFI this coming weekend.

I will now slip our next email to Friday - which will have a very special offer in it for all those of you who cannot make the British Fly Fair (BFFI) in Stafford this year.

Also, thank you to everyone who completed our customer survey this year, your replies were very enlightening (and entertaining).

I will share the findings with you next weekend - once I've managed to collate everything and made sense of it!

TL;DR - Too Long; Didn't Read

I know that some of you are pressed for time and save our emails to read later in the day, by this time our selections are sometimes sold out - I get lots of emails from customers pointing this out to me.

I've put this section at the beginning, so you can grab your flies now - and save reading my musings for later, safe in the knowledge that you have already secured your Artisan Woolly Bugger selection.

This email is all about our twist on the ever popular Woolly Bugger, it's a specialist lure pattern which is particularly successful when fished in the early (and late) season on both Stillwaters & Rivers.

In this email, we are launching our Artisan Woolly Bugger Selection - a selection of 4 patterns tied on size 10 AHREX FW581 barbless wet fly hooks - the best barbless lure hooks there are! This selection contains 12 flies in total - 3 each of the 4 different patterns - for only £20, which includes FREE delivery.

*** We only have 40 selections available, and they will
sell out within hours ***

I've taken immediate notice of one main theme from your survey responses, which was:

"You are too river focussed, please do more Stillwater flies"

So I'm going to rectify that immediately today, with ... our version of:

It all started with ... a trip to Calgary (Canada) to see my son a few years ago.

I visited a few fly shops, as you do, and the fly everyone was raving about was a pattern called The Bow River Bugger - similar to a Woolly Bugger, but much bigger (about 6-inches long) and much heavier.

We originally took this pattern, shrunk it down, and produced a 'pattern-specific' fly tying kit for the Tungsten Woolly Bugger for our sister company (Feathersmith - you can see the kit here) - see below.

This kit proved so popular that we've had to restock it 3 times since it was launched in October last year!

The one comment we've continually received since launching our Woolly Bugger kit is -

"I don't have the time to tie my own, I just want to buy them pre-tied on AHREX hooks to your usual quality"

So, we've done just that - and we've just made the first batch of our new Artisan Woolly Buggers available to buy online now.

These are all Stillwater specialist patterns (tied on the very best barbless lure hooks you can buy - the AHREX FW581) all are weighted with various coloured beads and varying materials - and they look stunning!

The Woolly Bugger is an evolution of the Woolly Worm fly, a variation of the palmer-style patterns. The Palmer-Worm originated here in the UK and was imported to the USA in the early 1900s, where it was modified to include a marabou tail and weight to help it sink.

The Woolly Bugger as we now know it is believed to have been created by Pennsylvania fly tier Russell Blessing in 1967 - then, named by his 7-year old daughter, Julie.

Along with all our other Artisan range of flies, these Woolly Buggers are tied on the very best barbless hooks you can buy - the AHREX FW581's:

AHREX FW581 Hook Specifications:

• Hook Length: 15.63mm
• Hook Gape: 6.00mm
• Wire Diameter: 0.75mm
• Finish: Black Nickel

The design of the Woolly Bugger is relatively simple, usually consisting of a marabou tail, chenille body, and a palmered hackle, allowing for natural movement in the water that attracts fish. This movement, combined with the fly's silhouette, mimics a variety of aquatic prey, making it highly adaptable across different fishing environments.

As you will see from the patterns above (and below), these are all stunning creations.

All of these flies are tied on size 10 AHREX FW581 Wet Fly hooks, topped off with a coloured tungsten beads (the 'stealth' patterns have beads the same colour as the dressing).

Our Artisan Woolly Bugger Selection includes 4 different patterns, we are supplying 3 of each pattern (12 in total), shipped for free, all for only £20 (these patterns usually sell for £1.80 each).

We only have a small quantity of these selections available (40 to be precise, with some set aside for sale individually), so you will need to be quick if you would like a set.

• A Selection of Artisan Woolly Buggers for only £20; which includes
• FREE Delivery to anywhere in the UK.

Please Note: Each of the Woolly Buggers included within this selection are also available to buy individually for £1.80 each, or in packs of 3 for £5.00, or packs of 6 for £9.00. 

See below for more individual pattern details and photos:

Olive Hot-Head Woolly Bugger

Black Hot-Head Woolly Bugger

Olive Stealth Woolly Bugger

Black Stealth Woolly Bugger

Generally, the water levels at this time of year are starting to creep up (and flow faster), so we've also added a 3.5mm tungsten javi beads to the superb AHREX FW581 Barbless Wet Fly hook. This selection of Artisan Woolly Buggers includes 4 different patterns, 3 of each of the above.

Please Remember: We've only 40 of these selections available, so if you want a set, you will need to be quick - Our Artisan flies usually always sell out within a few hours of being released!

Go on, treat yourself - you know you want to - at £20 for the selection, these will not hang around for long!

FLY Series - Streamer & Lures

This 4th book in the series contains a detailed analysis of how to approach fly fishing with streamers and lures in both stillwaters and rivers, targeting those bigger fish!

In this book, you will discover the techniques, flies, casts, watercraft and how to approach streamer fishing in both rivers and stillwaters.

Book Details:

• Number of Pages - 80
• Format - A6 (10.5cm x 14.8cm)

This book also discusses the different types of streamers and lures available on the market today, how to choose which ones and where to use them to get the most success. We've included a section on Watercraft, showing you when and where to deploy the various streamer techniques. As streamers are larger flies, we've also added a section on how to cast them - using the Double Haul.

The Woolly Buggers' versatility and effectiveness have made it a favourite among fly fishers targeting trout. Its adaptability has also led to countless variations in colour, size, and materials.

Over time, it has become a staple in all anglers’ fly boxes around the world and remains one of the most dependable flies in fly fishing.

• To fish the Woolly Bugger effectively, start by choosing an appropriate colour — black and olive are the most popular choices, though colours like white and chartreuse can also be effective depending on water clarity and season.
• Use a sink-tip line or added split-shot to help the fly reach deeper water where fish are often holding.
• Allow the fly to sink and drift naturally. The Woolly Bugger can be stripped back in various ways; experiment with short, quick pulls to mimic an injured fish or slower, longer pulls to imitate small fish.
• Pay close attention to strikes — they can be very subtle.
• A slow, steady retrieve often entices fish that are more lethargic, while an erratic, faster retrieve can trigger aggressive strikes, particularly in warmer conditions.
• Adjust your technique based on fish behaviour, and don't hesitate to change up retrieves to find what works best for the day.

The Woolly Bugger’s adaptability makes it a favourite for anglers everywhere.

I've included a link to our Lure & Streamer Manifesto for you to download below. This manifesto is packed full of tips and tricks to help you get the best when fishing lures and streamers like the Woolly Bugger:

 

Tight lines & have a great day.