Floating Dragonfly Nymph Fly Pattern …

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Tis the season for the big Dragonfly nymphs to start their migration to the shorelines to emerge so … we thought it an appropriate time to share a deadly floating dragonfly nymph fly pattern that you can use to help imitate this big meal tickets trek in hopes of fooling a few lunker rainbows along the way!

Unlike, Chironomid, Mayfly and Caddis, Dragonfly nymphs do not emerge in the water surface but instead migrate to shoreline vegetation to do so. This migration is, for the most part, accomplished by crawling along the lake bottom, through or over any vegetation it encounters along the way.

When not crawling, the dragonfly nymph has a unique method of propulsion accomplished by expelling water from its butt … a method that sounds quite humorous yet is very effective in allowing it to move very quickly in short fast bursts … likely quite useful when attempting to avoid predators or capture a meal.

During this shooting motion the nymphs legs are tucked back along the sides of its body in a very streamlined fashion.

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This torpedo like blur is very likely the way a dragonfly nymph appears to a hungry trout just before it inhales it for dinner. This is probably the reason that Dragonfly nymph patterns are quite effective when retrieved in short quick strips along the bottom. 😉

The problem, however, is imitating these natural crawling or shooting motions on the lake bottom with out constantly hanging up …….. enter the flyguys floating Dragonfly nymph fly pattern!

Floating Dragonfly Nymph Fly | Materials List:

Hook: Mustad 9671 / Togens Nymph Hook (size 6 – 10)
Thread: 6/0 Brown or Olive
Under Body: Spun Deer Hair
Over Body: Olive Dubbing
Legs: Pheasant Tail
Eyes: Black Plastic Bead Chain
Head: Olive Dubbing

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Floating Dragonfly Nymph Fly | Tying Directions:

… make a dubbing loop at the bend of the hook, spin deer hair onto back 2/3 of hook, tie off & trim to cigar shape.

… fill loop with dubbing, wind forward & tie off.

… tie in a set of legs in on each side of the body.

… figure eight in a pair of eyes.

… make another dubbing loop, build up a head & whip finish.

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That’s it … you’ve completed your Floating Dragonfly Nymph Fly! 🙂

Floating Dragonfly Nymph Fly |Fishing it …

When fished on a full sink line with a short leader the Floating Dragonfly Nymph Fly will ride up just above the bottom, out of harms way yet close enough to imitate the natural. A slow & steady hand twist retrieve imitates the nymph trudging along the bottom and a quick short strip retrieve can trigger trout by replicating the fleeing motion of the nymph being pursued by a hungry trout. Once you find the retrieve that interests the trout hang on tight cause they take these big meal tickets hard!

That’s all folks … tie some up and get out there!

*** if you’re interested in custom tied, time tested & proven effective BC Interior fly patterns, but would rather buy than tie, please Contact us for details!

*** for more effective BC stillwater fly fishing patterns be sure to check out all of flies on our BCs best fly patterns index page!

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