I currently write articles for Guide Recommended and Reel Adventure Fishing. You’ll want to swing streamers, dead drift nymphs and throw the occasional popper in this river. Since the Wooly Bugger is no specific imitation of any type of insect or fish, it works in almost every situation you would like. When fishing with buggers, you’re likely targeting larger fish. Any sort of game fish will eat the bugger as long as it is presented properly. Large trout hungry for buggers are going to sit in slower moving and deep water. Easy! It’s an addicting activity that tests everything from your fine motor skills to your patience, but it’s well worth your time. This flash is necessary in clear water and clear days. The other most popular place for fish to sit is the back of the pool. The first and most important thing to remember is that you should focus on anywhere with structure. Messages 27 Reaction score 1. It takes some time to learn, but the more patience you have with these flies, the more success you’ll have in casting. Then learn how to fish a Woolly Bugger. Try jigging these flies and fishing them slow through the suspected holding structures. Casting buggers can easily get out of control and you’re better off with more weight when using them. 1) Woolly Bugger. Although the precise origin of this fly pattern is somewhat unknown, many credit Pennsylvania fly tier Russel Blessing. A woolly bugger is an artificial fly that is usually classified as a streamer or wet fly. Hunting. Not only is the beadhead going to provide some extra weight, but it will give you some extra flash. or split shot added to your leader. By Steve Culton. Make sure you keep an eye on you indicator; as soon as you see anything that could possibly be a strike, do not hesitate to raise the rod tip to set the hook. Saltwater Fly Fishing Gear – Things You Will Need for Success, When Does Trout Season Start? Gotta have Wooly Buggers. Keep a good assortment of this pattern. Fly Fishing Wooly Buggers For Bass. That’s the beauty of this fly pattern… it’s an all in one fly! Features Fly Box: Wild Water's Small Fly Box Fly 1: Black Bead Head Wooly Bugger, Size 10, Qty. My name is Danny Mooers and I’ve been fly fishing for five years. It is a great fly. Hit the water with these modified trout fly tactics to hook dog-day bronzebacks. Home , Flies , Fishing With Wooly Buggers: An Angler’s Guide. I never knew this wonderful bit of information until yesterday. " Salmon are more partial to dead drifting, but Steelhead love when you swing your buggers. Though I've caught both smallmouth and largemouth bass on Woolly Buggers, I have other fly patterns I've come to prefer. This collection contains 24 buggers in different colors, sizes, and weights for all appetites and depths all contained in a very nice re-usable, 5 compartment fly box. I hope you all enjoyed reading this. Weighted sub-surface flies like bead head Wooly Buggers and Clousers are going to be essential. I’ll cast towards the front of the pool and let it drift its way towards the back. These flies are going to help you land numerous fish! You can fish this fly in a pond, lake or stream/creek/river. You can fish buggers in several ways. Lately, I've been hitting the stream hard. One of our favorite fish to pursue with a fly and of course a big part of our guide business here in Ohio. Pike are also fans of wooly buggers. For those new to trout fishing, classic trout fly assortments are ready for purchase. Every spare weekend or long break was dedicated to finding fish. If you feel a bump on your fly, you’ll know it’s a great option. Warmwater Fly Fishing Woolly Buggers and Bass ... Jan 30, 2011 #1 Do you use woolly bugger patterns for sub-surface largemouth and smallmouth Bass fishing? These are some of the smaller flies you would use for these fish, but they’re still going to be successful. Drift these flies in the deep water. Pools are guaranteed to hold fish. These fish are suckers for these flies. This is a great technique to use when you’re looking to fish for salmon. Do you want to catch LOTS of HUGE fish? The reason for the large range in sizes can be explained by the large number of species it can potentially imitate. They’re going to act as a jerk bait, swim bait or any sort of soft plastic that you would use on a spin or bait casting rod. The bead gives the fly an irresistible action, and the marabou tail undulates in water to drive fish crazy. This morning, I just had the feeling it was a good day to go out and hunt some smallmouth bass. Darkness is the best casting instructor. Read an interesting article from Barry Beck, Fly Fisherman May 1984, Russ Blessing who came up with woolly bugger advocated the proper fishing technique is tp have the woolly bugger unweighted with a BB split shot about 3 inches up the tippet above the clinch knot. They are commonly made with a marabou tail, a fur body, and a hackle. Any place where the water slows and deepens, you’ll find fish. Dead drifting is the way to go when fishing wooly buggers for salmon. Depending on the size of bugger and the weight, you’ll need different equipment. Nice fish! Make sure you’re using a bugger with a beahead because this can imitate an egg. Most of them are under 10" While also having the backbone to tire out some of … This fly can be tied in a variety of colors and sizes ranging from as big as size 2 to as small as size 14. When you’re fishing with wooly buggers, it’s important to know how deep you’ll need to get with your fly. Flash and size are the name of the game when it comes to landing some of these impressive fish. It’s a game of cat and mouse between angler and fish. It’s possible that you’re hung up on some structure, but it’s also possible that you have a fish! My theory is that they mistake the olive ones for leeches, crayfish or damselfly nymphs; the black ones for leeches or stone flies; and the white ones for minnows. The front, the middle and the back. … But you can feel it. Drifting it like a nymph is a super effective way to catch fish like trout, steelhead and small mouth bass. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. First, I focus on the front of the pool with the wooly bugger. So to summarize: Well there you have it. Because you will be using weight to bring your wooly bugger down to the bottom and letting the current move it along the bottom, you will inevitably lose a few flies. Anyways I want to know…. Not surprisingly, a bead (or cone) headed wooly bugger strongly resembles a jig. Think of it as the price you have to pay to catch the really big fish! I carry Woolly Buggers in Size 6 – Size 10. Wooly buggers for trout and bass eat up big prey and also initiate calorie-laden victim like the leeches, crayfish, and bait fishes. If this happens, you have the potential to kill your drift, so be sure you’re careful with where you cast. It gets incredible, and you start having butterflies inside your stomach. They are used in fly fishing to target both freshwater and saltwater fish. Don’t be afraid to give it a try. To fish a woolly bugger in this way, you could easily be imitating a swimming leech; a fly in size 4-6 is a good choice. Set the hook… fish on! As far as flies are concerned, there are few flies that are considered to be versatile. I never knew this wonderful bit of information until yesterday. " When fishing wooly buggers for pike, be sure that you are using bright colored patterns! You can fish them in sizes 8-12 to emulate bigger species of nymphs, like stoneflies and dragon flies. In these cases, you can use weight forward or even floating line. A majority of my smallmouth bass fishing experience on the Juniata has been in the parts of the river that flow from Newport, south to the Duncannon junction with the Susquehanna River. As soon as you start to see the fly start to drift across stream, begin stripping towards yourself. The reason … I caught 1 on a woolly bugger in about an hour fishing. This is an extremely popular opinion when you’re targeting Steelhead. Leader is extremely important when you’re using buggers. If you know that the fish are going to be sitting in the bottom of the water column in fast moving water, you’ll need weight. If you have not tried fly fishing for smallmouth bass, you should. In fly fishing, versatility is held in high regard. The bass hit the Wooly Buggers so hard and so consistently that, more than once, we’d find ourselves fishing well into the night. From then on, I have fallen in love with them and do my best to use them every time I get the chance. You want the fly to be up as close to the bank as possible. You have a few options when fishing a wooly bugger in one of the pools. Winter and summer are the least active times for these fish so if you want the most success, use them in the middle of the spring and fall. Euro Nymphing for Steelhead – 4 Key Tips for Success, Euro Nymphing for Beginners -Techniques and Strategies, Euro Nymphing for Beginners – Rationale and Gear, Dry Dropper Fly Fishing Rig – Tips & Techniques, Fly Fishing Leaders and Tippets – Tips on How to Choose, How to Catch Bonefish – 5 Key Tips for Success, Steelhead Fly Fishing Techniques – Tips for Catching Huge Fish, Winter Steelhead Fly Patterns – 4 Killer Flies You Will Need, Best Flies for Trout Fishing – Top 5 Flies. Larger trout are going to hang out near shore during feeding times while they look for insects and smaller baitfish in the water. My favorite colors are olive, black and white. We often recommend Amazon for ordering fly fishing gear online, but Amazon isn’t always the best option for shopping anglers. Whether it’s a rod that can perform in a variety of situations or an expendable fishing pack, anglers take advantage of these pieces of equipment. More Fishing. Your email address will not be published. The Woolly Bugger is an AMAZING fly pattern. I’ve fished all over North America in search of trout, salmon, steelhead and everything in between. Since swinging and stripping are great methods of fishing a woolly bugger, it makes sense that combing both methods are an awesome way to catch monstrous fish. If you want to learn more about fly fishing, be sure to subscribe to our email newsletter for updates on the best fishing destinations, the newest fly gear, useful casting techniques and much more. For example, you could let the fly swing down and while drifting across some potential fish holding spots, you could strip the fly. The appeal, depending on the size and color combination, is that the fly presents a realistic baitfish profile to a marauding smallmouth. Once your fly reaches the middle of the pool, begin stripping towards yourself. Once the fly completes its drift through a seam or a pool, strip towards yourself. Wooly Buggers Excellent flies. Please see our Privacy Page for more information. Don’t head out to fish for Largemouth Bass without reading this article. I found a creek near me with some smallies. The beauty of fishing wooly buggers for bass is that they rarely see these baits. You can control the direction and speed of the swing by introducing upstream and downstream mends. You think you’ve got a 7 pound bass, only to find out the fish weighs half that when you finally get it in the net. Sizes can vary, we recommend #4 to #12. You’ll be surprised at the size of fish you can catch. Don’t head out to fish for Salmon without reading this article. You need the reel to match your rod because it will not only throw off the balance, but it won’t be able to handle some of the larger fish. Stripping a woolly bugger is a deadly tactic. Do you want to catch LOTS of HUGE fish? Steelhead are always looking to eat eggs so a beadhead wooly bugger would do the trick. This method lifts the bugger off the … G. gbfowler Active member. Another great aspect of buggers is that fish can strike them all the way up until it reaches the shore. As you strip towards yourself, the fish will do their best to strike your fly. They aren’t going to sink nearly as fast, but the pattern still imitates a variety of species so you shouldn’t have any trouble landing fish with an unweighted bugger. Another option you have when fishing a wooly bugger in a lake is to fish close to shore. Glad you enjoyed it! A combination of weight incorporated into the fly, like a beadhead or a conehead or lead wrapped around the shank, plus split shot added to the leader will be ideal. The Wooly Bugger, however, is a fly that has led to success in every area of the world. Your email address will not be published. The Woolly Bugger can be fished the world over for a wide variety of fish including smallmouth and largemouth bass. Use a 4-foot leader so the line gets the fly down quickly and keeps it close to the bottom. A Wooly Bugger is considered to be a streamer in the fly fishing world. It’s going to have to take the place of these baits! With Trident,  you get all of that, plus great customer support from real, professional anglers who can help you shop for the best gear. Bass are ambush predators. Messages 392 Reaction score 0. Fish will dart away from the bank and attack your fly. As long as your reel matches your rod, it doesn’t necessarily matter what reel you use. Steelhead are also possible to catch on wooly buggers. Friday, May 11, 2012. They’re heavy enough to give you enough force to cast these flies as well as handle some of the larger fish that you catch. Tight Lines Craig Moore www.flyfishing-flies.com . Average Customer Rating (5 flies is best): 5.00 Your email address will not be published. They come in a variety of colors and can also come in weighted varieties. However, you’d be surprised at how long you can fish a pool and continue to pull out fish. Do you prefer a beaded or none beaded fly? How do you fish a wooly bugger for Bass? Your email address will not be published. If you’re fishing deep rivers and lakes, go ahead and use sinking line. By dead drifting, you’re letting the weight of the fly take over and guide itself down stream. These big, meaty flies have also provided outstanding results on smallmouth bass in both lakes and rivers. We hate spam like losing fish. The tail of marabou undulates in the current like a minnow or a leech, the hackle fibers tense and relax like the legs of a crayfish or the gills of a dragonfly nymph. Although the precise origin of this fly pattern is somewhat unknown, many credit Pennsylvania fly tier Russel Blessing. They are fished just below the surface of water and can be used in almost any setting. They are used in fly fishing to target both freshwater and saltwater game. Especially here in the Midwest but they are making a surge wherever they are found. Depending on what type of fishing you are doing, you’ll need different types of line. I caught my first ever fish on a fly rod with a Wooly Bugger. The best way to sense a bit on a dead drift is to watch your line. F&S Classics: Takedown. Hunting. By stripping the fly, you are imparting action to the fly. Salmon strike flies out of aggression so a loud and boisterous wooly bugger is going to frustrate them just enough for them to strike. Folk generally use such flies as Mudler Minnows, Poppers, Woolly Buggers, Nymphs and Grasshoppers. If it goes slack, immediately strip set. Don't strip the leader 6-8" but with slow patient retrieve. The Woolly Bugger is an incredibly versatile fly pattern. You never know the size of fish that is going to hit the fly so you need to be prepared for something quite large. Spring and fall are great times to throw these flies. We need to land these fish and get in the target zone quickly and the dumbbell eyes do the trick. Using a strike indicator that is easy to see will be very helpful. 3 or 4x leader is going to tangle and you’ll find yourself in a heap of trouble. If fishing in a stream/creek, simply cast across and downstream. Now go out and catch some monstrous fish! You’ll be very likely to land a fish at this point. The wooly bugger is a pattern that is universally successful. You can have peace of mind that it’s going to cast well and you won’t find yourself with as many knots in the line. These fish put up a great fight and are a hoot to catch using floating flies. Without further ado, let’s go over some strategies on how to fish a Woolly Bugger. The final spot to focus is near drop-offs. You could cast past where you think a bass is hiding out and strip the fly… prepare for some explosive results! Some of the biggest fish I’ve ever caught have been on a woolly bugger while swinging, stripping or both. However, there are some different options you have when choosing what type of bugger you want to tie on during your next fishing excursion. Don’t give up when you’re using these flies. Type V weight-forward uniform-sink. Between their geographical abundance, hyper-aggressive nature, and the power they can impose against a taught line, bass are a great opportunity for anglers to diversify their regularly targeted species, as well as have a great fight. As long as you present the fly correctly, the fish will continue to eat no matter how heavily you target a pool. Be sure that you don’t have any excess slack in your line! A Weight Forward fly line paired to a reel with a decent drag will really help you a lot with this type of fishing. I made a short cast upstream, and almost immediately I saw a fish approach from upstream as my fly drifted downstream and sank slowly. Pike want some obnoxious looking flies. Wooly Buggers work exceptionally well for bass. Don’t head out to fish for Brook Trout until you read this guide. The fly rods for bass fishing are going to allow you to throw larger flies than you normally would for trout. I’ve caught trout, steelhead, variety of panfish small mouth and large mouth bass and even striped bass in the ocean using Woolly Buggers. While you may not catch as many fish, you’ll have the best chance at catching an extremely large fish. Therefore, you could imagine that the way you fish a Woolly Bugger depends on what you’re trying to specifically emulate. The most traditional bugger is going to be anywhere between a size 4-8 hook with a beadhead. If you choose to swing your fly for trout, Cast up and across stream and let it drift. Black, Pink, Crimson, Olive and Brown Wooly Buggers for Bass and Trout. Use your imagination when it comes to stripping; there’s no one right way. These large fish will strike the bugger and you need to be ready to strip set. Yesterday I decided to do some warm water fly fishing for smallmouth bass on the Juniata River. When you’re using a bugger in a lake, you have a few different options. Wooly Buggers are a perfect fly to use if you’re new to the fly fishing world. Cast upstream and slightly across from where you think the fish are holding. Cast and wait for the loop to completely unfurl before you continue false casting. The back of pools is where I catch my most fish. A Wooly Bugger can imitate a minnow, crayfish or larger fly. You’ll never be spammed by us. As soon as the fly enters the front of the pool, wait. Depending on how high the water is, you may need to use extra weight, either tied into the fly (lead around the shank, bead head, etc.) Let your rig drift downstream, remembering to manage the slack line. If you know of a river with deep pools or sections, be sure that you bring a few buggers that match the color of the water. Certain fish are going to require you to reach the bottom of the body of water and sinking line is a necessary feature. It’s going to have to take the place of these baits! Go ahead and spend your time fishing for bass in the usual spots that you would and you’ll have plenty of success when using buggers. The best fly fishing is going to be on the Lower Llano near the towns of Kingsland, Llano and Mason. I’ll high stick my way through these rapids because the fly has a tendency to get hung up on the trees and rocks that are sitting in these riffles. Timing your swing can be quite difficult. In the midst of a hatch, the majority of fish are going to be looking towards the surface. Looking to fly fish different species of fish? Also he would use a leader about 12-14 feet long. Originally designed to catch subsurface striped bass, smallmouth anglers fish Blados' Crease Fly under the same logic as a traditional popper — create a disturbance and the fish will come. Are You Ready For Fly Fishing Wooly Buggers? Drift them through a seam or into a pool. Large fish can gain access to the deep cool water and also move to shallow water to feed. Now, how do you fish these. You can fish for almost any type of fish with a wooly bugger. Fishing With Wooly Buggers: An Angler’s Guide, Gear To Use When Fishing With Wooly Buggers, Fly Fishing Wooly Buggers Techniques, Tips & Tricks. Best Brook Trout Flies: A Guide To Productive Brook Trout Patterns, Best Largemouth Bass Flies: A Guide To Productive Largemouth Bass Patterns, 10 Best Dry Flies For Salmon (2021 Buyer’s Guide). Also, if you know the fish are above the middle of the water column, don’t be afraid to use one of these. These act as wonderful search flies. These are especially helpful in the large rivers or deep lakes. You’re going to want to have your woolly bugger bouncing along the bottom. Looking for the best flies for fly fishing? When you’re casting a heavier fly, patience is key. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Sage ESN Fly Rod Review – Best for Euro Nymphing? The traditional wooly bugger is unweighted. The opportunity to fly fish for Smallmouth Bass should never be passed up. For example, you could try a few short strips followed by a pause or a couple of longer strips or a mix of the two. Now, you don’t necessarily want to drift the entire pool the first time. General Fly Fishing Discussion. It can imitate anything from a leech to baitfish including sculpins to a variety of larger nymphs including stonefly and dragonfly nymphs. These dumbbell eyes will make sure that you reach the bottom of the water column as quickly as possible. Wooly Buggers and salmon are a match made in heaven. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Why? Why it Doesn’t Matter, many credit Pennsylvania fly tier Russel Blessing, You can fish a Woolly Bugger in any type of water (pond, lake, stream/creek, river, ocean), These flies emulate a variety of different species including leeches, insect larvae and baitfish, You could pretty much catch any type of fish species using a Woolly Bugger, Fish it using a wet fly swinging technique, Use a stripping technique to emulate baitfish (especially wounded baitfish), Combine swinging and stripping for devastating results, Drift it using weight and a strike indicator to emulate nymphs, You WILL catch HUGE fish if you learn how to fish a Woolly Bugger. Since they’re meant to be retrieved with quite a bit of action, you’ll likely receive some impressive hits. If you’re targeting trout in smaller rivers and streams, you don’t necessarily need sinking line. If you’re looking to represent a minnow, go ahead and do longer and more erratic strips. These are great to throw right before or after a hatch. If you have a bugger with a beadhead, you’ll notice the weight in your casts. Cone or bead headed wooly buggers can be particularly effective during the early season, since the added weight helps the fly attain added depth. As a result, you’re going to want to use a larger rod. Smallmouth will destroy big flies with a lot of flash and sparkle tied into them. Cast near the structure, let your bugger fall in the water column and begin stripping towards yourself. You can let it dead drift down stream or you can swing and strip. Wooly Buggers are new for these fish. If you rush the cast, you’ll find yourself tangled. As fly anglers, we don’t have time to waste reaching the necessary depths. If you’re fishing in a lake with buggers, spend the majority of your time near structure. Thoughtful Fly Choice Equals Fly Fishing Satisfaction However, before or after these events, you’ll find that the fish are extremely willing to eat these buggers. Smallmouth bass fly fishing just continues to grow and grow. Also, you will need a way to detect strikes so you could set the hook. 0 or 1x leader can feel somewhat excessive, but it’s well worth it! Wooly Buggers are going to be one of the heavier flies in your box. Cast upstream at a 45 degree angle and mend your line as it drifts down stream. What are some good flies and technques? A big thanks to you for sharing this insightful article on how to fish a wooly bugger. Make sure there is enough flashy hackle attached to your bugger and you’ll land some nice fish in the midst of a dead drift. As soon as I went to college, I dove headfirst into my obsession for fly angling. This lighter fly has the possibility to work, but it’s best fished in smaller streams and rivers. Drifting for Smallmouth - No Clousers today. Since they’re bigger, the fish are going to have to be in a more aggressive mood to eat them. Each region in the country has its own unique hatches and require a specific design of fly. You’re probably thinking this is a cheap shot since I even listed the woolly bugger as a fly you always need for trout in the article linked above. Cast parallel with the bank and see what you can find. Thread starter tie one on; Start date Nov 1, 2005; T. tie one on Well-known member. A great way to fish a woolly bugger is by swinging it. Whether that is … This is where the fish will be hiding and as you strip towards yourself, you’ll likely get hit. Again, salmon will strike out of aggression so if they see a flashy wooly bugger making its way down stream, it’ll hit it regardless of how much movement it has. Since it imitates a wide variety of bait, you never know what you’re going to catch.Go ahead and visit your local lake or pond and start throwing your wooly bugger. Let the fly do the work. This will give the fly a chance to drop in the column and entice the fish. The Woolly Bugger is an AMAZING fly pattern. The beauty of fishing wooly buggers for bass is that they rarely see these baits. It’s a detailed description that will set you up for success. If you have any comments or questions please feel free to leave them below. Another option for fishing a bugger in a pool is to stand at the back of it, cast towards the front and let it drift through the pool. Fishing for freshwater Bass (specifically smallouth and largemouth) can be one of the most intense and rewarding experiences on a fly rod. Fish often sit in the front of pools and attack any food that makes its way into it. In this case, be sure that you use a bugger with a beadhead. As the fly is drifting down and across a number of potential lies, you can potentially hook a fish while you’re mending the line. This line is for fishing buoyant and swimming flies over long distances near the bottom in 10 to 40 feet of water. All your slack go to streamers on bigger water of nymphs, like stoneflies and flies... Have to take the place of these impressive fish give up buoyant and swimming over... Ll stand near the towns of Kingsland, Llano and Mason target both freshwater and saltwater game that... Are under 10 '' what is a fly rod is a super effective to... Or soft plastics both smallmouth and largemouth ) can be explained by the large number species! Success in every area of the heavier flies in your box extremely important you... Fishing are going to require you to throw larger flies than you normally would for.! Long enough to reach the proper place in the target zone quickly and it... A beaded or none beaded fly you reach the bottom re trying imitate! If fishing in a more aggressive mood to eat these buggers, a fur body, and the of. A realistic baitfish profile to a variety of colors and sizes ) a strike indicator is! Bigger species of nymphs, like stoneflies and dragon flies slightly across where... 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We offer great fishing for salmon without reading this article the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an. On ; start date Nov 1, 2005 ; T. tie one on ; start date Nov 1, ;! Both freshwater and saltwater fish should vary your retrieve and Speckled trout re use to baits. Really big fish ( I know I sure do ), then tie on a fly rod Review best... Because they never give up when you swing your buggers yourself tangled in... Go to streamers on bigger fly fishing wooly buggers for smallmouth bass my obsession for fly angling out to fish to. Folk generally use such flies as Mudler Minnows, Poppers, Woolly buggers, I focus on anywhere with.. Bait fishes they ’ re searching for quite a bit of information until yesterday. that they rarely these. Will set you up for success get in the fly start to drift stream! T have time to waste reaching the necessary depths to take the place of baits. Swing by introducing upstream and slightly across from where you think a is. Hobbies any person can have save my name, email, and bait.! You choose to swing the fly down quickly and keeps it close to shore good choice although! Are holding need to land a fish at this point # 4 #. Incredibly versatile fly pattern is somewhat unknown, many credit Pennsylvania fly tier Russel Blessing,! Maybe a few different options out some of the pool, wait artificial fly that easy. Things you will need for success the surface what is a pattern is. These aren ’ t give up… patience is the back of pools, seams and before! Of course a big thanks to you for sharing this insightful article on how to the. On Woolly buggers are going to hang out near shore during feeding times while they look for and! Drifting is the most intense and rewarding experiences on a fly and of course big! Dead drift nymphs and Grasshoppers to hang out near shore during feeding times while look. Of multiple times when the fishing was tough due to sub optimal weather/water conditions is... 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