I think woolies have a lot to do with confidence. I have caught MANY fish on wooly worms (primarily with a red tail) but practically nothing on wooly buggers. Having tied hundreds, and bought several dozen, I don't think I can blame the pattern. Having read may articles on presentation and followed them, I don't think that's the problem. Basically, there are a lot of other flies I know I can use to catch fish. Consequently, those other flies work better for me because I have confidence in them.