If you are a little confused as to who the Bugwan is, we would like to clear things up a bit for you. The Bugwan makes his first appearance in our Fly Fishing Large Western Rivers video series. He is a mysterious character with some magical powers and carries with him a vast knowledge of the insects that fish like to eat. John Smeraglio has had several visits with the Bugwan, but strangely, Rick has never met him. Here is a little background we have dug up for you.

The Bugwan was born in 1934 in a small mosquito infested fishing resort near Lake Stopascratch'nthat, Wisconsin, to Frank and Lotta Buns. Named Billy Buns - friends and neighbors usually just called him Lotta's Little Bun - Billy was immediately drawn to water. This may have been in part because the mosquito swamp behind Frank and Lotta's mobile home was the one place Billy could go to escape the name-calling and rock throwing from the other children in town. Billy spent many hours on the bank of the swamp watching the fish and wildlife. Billy also learned how to tolerate hundreds of mosquito bites and eventually became completely immune to their after effects, and thus, became the first resident of Stopascratch'nthat to actually stop-a-scratch'n.

As Billy reached puberty his voice began changing as all young men's voices do. This change, however, took a rather odd twist. Instead of deepening into the baritone Norwegian twang of the locals, he developed a high-pitched nasal East Indian accent. Of course this only resulted in more name-calling and made it impossible for Billy to get a date.

He really didn't care much, however, for one day, down by the swamp, he found the light (a real nice penlight with fresh batteries). This was just what he had been waiting for. With the added confidence of his new light he set off from Stopascratch'nthat to happier mosquito grounds.

Billy wandered far and wide and learned much in his travels. His fondness for water also continued. In fact he became quite knowledgeable of all creatures that live in the water, especially how to cook them, as he had about as much luck finding work as he did getting a date. Finally he realized that his real problem was his name - Billy Buns. Somehow no one ever took him seriously when he introduced himself as Billy Buns from Stopascratch'nthat, Wisconsin. Since he always got along so well with mosquitoes and other bugs he finally decided to call himself The Bugwan.

Well his life took an immediate turn for the better. Women began asking him for advice about how to cook just about everything. His reputation as a culinary giant grew to the point that he finally had to turn women away as they were leaving him totally worn out. About this time he decided his real mission should be a teacher of nature and the insects that he was so fond of. As luck (of course the Bugwan doesn't believe in luck, only good fortune) would have it, the Bugwan was wandering along the banks of the Deschutes River on the vary day that Laughing River Productions was shooting their spring video. The Bugwan took an immediate liking to John Smeraglio, but for some reason never showed up when Rick Hafele was there. No matter. The Bugwan decided to spread his words of bug wisdom through Laughing River's videos so all could reap the rewards of his knowledge and good looks.