have you tried to use a furled leader? i have been using them for a while now and find they eliminate twisting tenancies.

Thanks all for the concern. I typically use the lightest tippet I can get away with, which means usually 4x and 5x, 3x if I'm chasing larger bass with a 6wt or 4wt. These issues came on my 3wt with a pretty light tippet, so maybe the fly was overbearing on the tippet.

I used furled leaders for a while last year, then I got out of the habit, and am now using them again since I'm making my own. I haven't been using any buggers for the last few months so I don't know how things are going to perform with the new flies and leaders.

I am guilty of trying to throw flies with my 3wt that are just too big for that setup. In my mind I vision a nice day chasing bluegill, and end up going after bass, using what I've got with me. I'm breaking that habit though, and really liking using my 6wt lately, even though I still throw flies that are really too big for the 6wt.

I just fish for the dumb fish, so I seldom see any need to go lighter than 8 pound test for the tippit on my 3 weight rods. This also works out oretty good for the size bass I most often catch on my 3 weights. I check the leader often when I release fish and if it is damaged, I replace the tippit. It dosen't take all that much abrasion to allow me to lose a nice sized bass, so I replace it often. I guess this means I have fewer problems caused by woolly buggers than some others do. When I tie woolly buggers, I most often use cone heads with 8 to 12 wraps of lead to get them down so even thou throwen by a 3 weight, these are pretty heavy woolly buggers. They sure do work good.

Have fun with this stuff.

Big Dale