Bodkin / Patterns

Dragonfly Rubber Legs

Nymph · Largemouth Bass · Smallmouth Bass · Panfish · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook 3XL nymph/streamer hook, 4-10
  • Thread Olive 6/0 (140 denier)

Materials

  • Eyes Black ostrich herl (black dumbbell or bead-chain eyes)
  • Tail Olive ostrich herl (short olive marabou)
  • Body Olive/brown buggerbou mini barred (olive-brown dubbing or chenille)
  • Legs Barred rubber legs (olive/brown barred round rubber, 2-3 pairs)
  • Rib Copper thorax stripe (copper wire (optional))
  • Back Dark permanent marker (dark olive dubbing or turkey wingcase)

How to tie it

  1. Mount the hook and lash black dumbbell eyes on top near the eye so the fly rides hook-point-up.
  2. Start thread at the bend and tie in a short, fat olive marabou tail no longer than a third of the shank.
  3. Bind in the optional copper rib, then dub a broad, chunky olive-brown body forward, keeping it flat and wide like a dragon nymph.
  4. Tie pairs of barred rubber legs along the sides at two or three points, splayed out to crawl.
  5. Counter-wrap the rib forward through the body if used, tie off, then dub a fat thorax around and in front of the eyes.
  6. Whip finish behind the hook eye, snip, and pick out the body fibers to bulk the profile.

Tying videos

← All fly patterns