Bodkin / Patterns

Dragon Fly

Dry Fly · Trout · Smallmouth Bass · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook 3XL nymph/streamer hook (Daiichi 1710 or similar), 6-10
  • Thread Olive 6/0

Materials

  • Weight Lead-free wire (front half, optional) (8-10 turns)
  • Tail/shellback stub Olive marabou or pheasant tips (short bunch)
  • Abdomen Olive dubbing (fuller than a normal nymph) or spun/clipped deer hair (as needed)
  • Rib Olive or copper wire (5-6 turns)
  • Wing case Mottled turkey or Thin Skin, olive/brown (1 strip)
  • Legs Olive partridge, hen fibers, or barred rubber legs (2-3 per side)
  • Eyes Mono/burnt-bead dumbbell eyes (optional) (1 pair)
  • Thorax Olive dubbing, picked out (pinch)

How to tie it

  1. Optionally wrap 8-10 turns of lead-free wire over the front half of the shank for weight, then start olive thread. Tie in a short stub of olive marabou at the bend as a tail.
  2. Tie in the rib, then dub a fat, robust abdomen over the rear two-thirds. Dragonfly nymphs have a broad, stout body, so build it fuller and slightly flattened compared with a mayfly nymph.
  3. Counter-wrap the rib forward in 5-6 evenly spaced turns to segment the abdomen, and tie off.
  4. Tie in a mottled turkey (or Thin Skin) wing case at the front of the abdomen, pointing back. If using eyes, tie a small pair of mono/dumbbell eyes at the head to suggest the nymph's prominent eyes.
  5. Dub a wide, buggy thorax; add 2-3 legs of partridge or rubber to each side to represent the nymph's powerful sprawling legs.
  6. Pull the wing case over the thorax, tie it down behind the eye, whip finish and cement. Pick out the thorax dubbing so it looks alive.

Tying videos

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