BSA MK's Gingerbread Man Bugger

-- Big Sky Anglers Signature Fly Pattern --

Building on the popularity and effectiveness of his Swing Mint Bugger, MK (Matt Klara) started playing around with some additional color combinations in search of another bug with that magic combination of being able to both appeal to trout and also inspire confidence in anglers.  The Gingerbread Man, as it came to be known, was inspired by a couple of deadly patterns in their own right - the Thin Mint and the local favorite, the Baker's Hole Bugger.  We fished the Gingerbread Man last fall and winter and make no mistake, it is a fish catching machine. 

What sets this pattern apart from a standard bugger are the intentional modifications that are included specifically to improve its performance as a swung fly.   Matt added in the stinger hook concept to improve hookups, especially from soft-grabbing winter fish, adjusted the body and tail proportions to maximize wiggle in the water, and swapped lead wire and/or a beadhead for brass dumbbell eyes to keep the hook point oriented up and reduce snags when fishing deep. MK also incorporated flash running the length of the fly rather than just in the tail, again to increase motion. This fly fishes well on the swing on both standard single-hand rods as well as 2-handed rods. It also will handle cast and retrieve presentations.