A few years ago, Muz Wilson gave me some of his Emu Woolly Buggers to try. They worked, and as happens with successful flies owned by flyfishers who forget to re-order, their numbers were soon depleted. Eventually I was down to one survivor – a large green one that had caught trout from Lake Jindabyne to Woods Lake. I became careful about when I used that fly, saving it for those tough days or hours when I felt I needed something special. Such a day occurred about 12 months ago fishing with Felix at Millbrook Lakes. The weather was cold and grey, hardly a fish moved, and yet it took only half a dozen casts to hook this rainbow.
Then yesterday I visited Lake Wartook with mate Max. Things got off to a reasonable start, but by early afternoon the action had slowed. I seriously contemplated a lunch break, but instead decided to try one more spot on the eastern shore. Without too much thought, I clipped off a black midge pupa which hadn’t been touched for an hour or so, and reached into the fly box for the Emu Bugger. First cast, and the best trout I’ve ever caught at Wartook inhaled it.
So, either this particular green Emu Woolly Bugger has been infused with some secret essence Muz is working on, or it’s looking very much like a lucky fly. And now I’m faced with a dilemma. Do I push my luck (something I’m intensely wary of doing when flyfishing) and keep using it? Or do I retire this magic fly to a glass frame above my desk? Meanwhile, it’s about time I gave Muz a call to see if he has any green emu left.
Great fish. How often does a fish of about 4 kilos get caught? About once in a lifetime!
Thanks Peter.
Phil’,
What a pleasant read. I have just finished reading “Fishing Season”, a chapter or 3 before hitting the hay and then had to forcibly put the book down. A man has to get a bit of sleep, some time:-). I found this one unlike a lot of others to be an easy, informative read. written with honesty. I to know what it it is to be Smashed by a runaway Loco, it isn’t the landing that makes the difference but the memorable hit that leaves it’s mark. The better opponent always wins given an even “break”.
Perhaps you would do us the honour of putting something informative together on “Fly Tiers Materials and their Properties. Murry Fagg Griffiths attempted something of this type in “The Lure of Fly-Tying” but did not take his thoughts far enough.
Please give this some thought as there are many out there that aren’t familiar as to why certain materials are only suited to a particular style of fly.
Thank you and regards,
Ron W
Tas.
“All is as it should be in the Universe”