Woolly Bugger- by Joshua Williams
featured, Fly Patterns, Videos — By Kevin Hospodar on February 6, 2013 9:34 am
Joshua Williams from Dead Drift Flies (http://deaddriftflies.com/) shows how he ties a green Wooly Bugger. Joshua’s ability and passion is clear in this short clip and can serve as a true inspiration. Here is a bit of background;
“My name is Joshua Williams. I live in Virginia with my wife Lisa, our beautiful little Emma Jo, and our three labs. I joined the Army after high school and served as an Infantry automatic rifleman and squad leader, during which I was deployed to Iraq for 13 months. After I came back to Ft. Hood, Texas, I was involved in a major accident. A car pulled out in front of my motorcycle, and among other injuries, I lost my right arm. I was sent to Walter Reed for treatment and rehab. While there, I was introduced to Ed Nicholson, the president and founder of Project Healing Waters, and John Bass, a regional coordinator of Project Healing Waters. It was through them that I developed a passion for fly fishing. By teaching me how to fly fish, they introduced me to a new way of finding peace and tranquility. Fly fishing does more for me than any medicine on the market! I became an avid fly fisherman through Project Healing Waters and the wonderful comaraderie that comes with it. There’s nothing like catching a wild trout on a fly that I’ve tied. I began tying flies in 2008 and have become obsessed! Basically, if I’m hunting, fly fishing, or tying flies, I’m happy! God Bless!” -Josh
Make sure to check out Joshua’s site for more pictures and flies- http://deaddriftflies.com/
Tags: bugger, Joshua Williams, woolly bugger
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29 Comments
Amazing! I have always admired tiers who tie “in hand”….I do believe you go a step or two past that. Glad to hear that tying has given you a way to find your place of “peace and tranquility”. Truly inspirational!
Absolutely amazing! This guy ties better with one hand than I do with two hands.
Awesome, I admire your tenacity and positive attitude, you are an inspiration for all, I wish you the best!
Nice Wooly bugger pattern. What an inspirational guy. What a man.
Josh,
I am involved in the Project Healing Waters in WA State and someone here has invented an “arm” that assists one handed fly tiers to tie flies easier. If you are interested, e mail me at
healingh20water@gmail.com
Great Job Josh, Thanks for your Service. Inspirational. I’ll give yor version of the Bugger a try..
Supper job Josh, I am more than impressed! That wiil be fun to teach Emma Jo how to tie and enjoy it together.
Thanks for your service.
If I had to rate this fly it would be a 10 out of 10 because it is really buggy and will catch fish.
Thank you for your service Josh. Awesome job on the fly. I will give it a try. Thanks again.
Josh, You are a real inspiration. I belong to the Olympic Peninsula Fly Fishers and our club has been very involved with Healing Waters in this area. We have created a poster of flies representing service medals, built a 15.5 ft. cedar strip Wrangley boat for the healing waters group, providedoutings for vets donated material packages for vets build, the device that ytou to ty single handed.If you would like one of these let me know. My best to you.
Joe
Sir.
Others have said quite adequately before me, but, you cetainly are an inspiration, and a much better tyer than many of us with both arms.
I fervently hope that one of those offering you their assistance with prosthetics can help you gain back the use of your lost arm.
As for your daughter she sound like she will be a
qreat help even if you get the help from tgem she will always be your right arm!!!
Give her a big hug frm me.
Brian
Nice video Josh
Learned a few tricks and I have been tying and teaching for about 20 years.
Tying with your kids is a great way to share the passion.
Enjoy. It only gets better
Mark
I’ve been watching fly tying videos for years, this was the best by far. You are a darn good tier of flies and a inspiration to all of us. Thank you for your service to our country, keep hugging your little girl.
I’m impressed very nice video and thank you for your service.
WOW that was awesome
Hi Joshua, Most people watching you tie a suberb fly with one hand are stuck on that point. I think nobody thinks was he right handed or lefthanded prior to the accident! You are a mentor for those that say “I can’t”. Ps daughters are usually more receptive to daddies hobbies than the sons! All the best and I have book marked your site. Thank-you for sharing this pattern.
I was moved by this as, clearly, were others.
As an outdoor journalist, many years ago I tried to interview and photograph a highly respected (now deceased) salmon angler in Nova Scotia. He was missing most of one arm. He would have none of it. Nobody was going to feel sorry for him.
This man could pole a riverboat in heavy water able-bodied men might avoid; throw a long line, hook a large Atlantic salmon, play and land the fish, haul the anchor, and pole his boat back upriver – unaided.
His name was Lou Freeman.
If I’m ever tempted to feel sorry for myself, I think of Lou.
Joshua,
I started tying just a couple of months ago, so sometimes I feel it’s hard. I am sure that whenever I have that feeling again I will remember you and your perseverance!! Congratulations!!
Question: not using hackle gave you the same result when fishing?
Cheers from Argentina!
Hey Pilgrim, This is an awesome pattern! I fish and tie for steelhead trout and love it also. Please friend me Paladin Flys or Lew Kono. I would love to see some other patterns and I love all of the materials that you use, I like all of them. God Bless and Thank you for serving, Lew
Hey Warrior, meet another Warrior:
Nick Vujicic
http:/www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=W5mbldTkruM&feature=share
Josh,
Good on you young man. So happy to see and hear that you are getting along well. I,and several others in my fly club, have and do work with the Wounded Warrior efforts at Ft Lewis near here. Keep up the good work and the inspiration to us all. Thank you for your service and sacrifice.
PJ
Simply awesome job and good for you to find release from the stress you were under. Keep up the amazing tying, it only gets better and more fun with your family and friends.
Joshua, I like how you explain with all the materials at the beginning and how to use them well done good video.
Joshua, fantastic display of tying skills!
I have tied for over 20 years and have taught tying for my local club(see website) for over 10 years. So many find it a struggle to learn basic skills with 2 hands, then I watched you tie! YOU are an inspiration to us all!! I love your I’m not giving up attitude !!!
Thanks you for your service and your inspiration!
I found your instructions and demeanor to be fantastic! Also enjoyable was your future assistant tyer. Life happens when we aren’t watching. Enjoy every moment, fishing or tying when possible.
Josh,
Beautiful fly!! You’ve inspired me to tie a few today. Thanks for your service and your inspiration! I will share this video with my son when he gets home from school today.
Jeff
Josh – great fly. My son is do home From Afghanistan in a few weeks. I’ve already put his vice on the bench and will now set him up for tying woolly buggers. Thanks for your service and sacrifice. Best of everything to you.
Very good video! Thank you for your service to our country nd I must say it inspires me to watch you tie the wooly booger. I just recently started tying flies as an avenue of relaxation and my wooly boogers look nowhere as good as yours do.
I admire your and positive attitude, God bless you
Lago
God Bless you and your family. Thanks for your service and your sacrifice. So glad you found peace in this great sport.