Dragonfly nymph

[BilletHead]

   Again at the vice trying something. A dragonfly nymph. I had really good luck with nymphs like this especially in ponds after some warming. Fish are hungry and looking for a fat slow juicy treat. This fits the bill. Actually many big bass have been caught on the nymph. 

   Here is what I came up with today. Hook 4X long #8 streamer hook. Olive 6/0 thread, some ribbing material. .25 lead wire and fox squirrel for dubbing. Bead chain or plastic eyes. 

   Tie on eyes. I use bead chain. Run your thread to the back. Give yourself a little room for a little tail . Live ones don't have much of a tail but I add a small one for a little action. You can add tail now or do it later. Start lead right ahead of that point and wrap up to behind the eyes, then wrap on top of that back a little ways and break it off. Now take some pliers and smash the lead flat like this.

 Now some thread work. Cover lead work at each place that needs a smooth transition this will take a bit of time. If your thread balls up at the transition smash it flat with your pliers.

If you want a rib on the abdomen tie that in now.

     Now to dub up the abdomen. At the back of the abdomen at the tail junction pull down a good amount of thread and wax it. We are going to make a tight noodle of mixed fox squirrel hair. The back of the squirrel only. When you get this tight noodle made make a dubbing loop with it. Spin this loop up to make it tighter. This nymph is going to be bomb proof. Now wrap up this loop forward trying to keep your body contour to right behind where you think the thorax starts. Catch it off there.

  Take your scissors and trim top, sides and bottom smooth. Wrap up your rib if you planned for that now and catch it off and cut off excess.

  

More to come

[BilletHead]

  Now dubbing the thorax. Another dubbing loop. This time make a loop and wax one side. There will be no noodle this time spun in between the threads on the loop. Place little pinches of loose squirrel dubbing between the threads. Top to bottom of the loop. This will be messy and hair will fall off. Don't fret enough will be trapped between the threads,

  Yuck you say. Spin this mess up. Loose hair will go all over. Here is your loop now.

 Clean it up a bit with a tooth brush or Velcro. If you have it tight enough it will be just fine. Now wrap that up from back of throax to behind the eyes and around and over the eyes and catch off right behind the hook eye and whip finish. What a mess you have now:). 

  Time for scissors work. Get right in there and give it a flattop, do the same for the bottom. Leave those sides! Trim the wild hairs off in front of the eyes shaping the head. 

[BilletHead]

  Let's finish this nymph. After the trim job this is what it should look like and what I was going for. After trimming around the hook eye you might still have a mess. A small drop of head cement in my case some UV glue on the threads. Still some wild hairs around and in the hook eye? Heat up a needle or straight pin and insert into the hook eye singing them into oblivion. Don't touch the thread wraps on your good work will come undone. 

  Because of the lead placement on the hook this will ride hook up. No problem less snagging on the bottom. Ham said this is a good imitation of a little sculpin too. 

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

Great tip to clean the eye of loose hair.  That's one I needed.  

[kjackson]

It does look good.

For me, I'd have to pay homage to my PNW roots and add a turn or two of pheasant rump behind the eyes as a nod to the Carey Special. You, or I anyway, couldn't tie a dragonfly nymph pattern without pheasant rump.  

[BilletHead]

1 hour ago, kjackson said:

It does look good.

For me, I'd have to pay homage to my PNW roots and add a turn or two of pheasant rump behind the eyes as a nod to the Carey Special. You, or I anyway, couldn't tie a dragonfly nymph pattern without pheasant rump.  

                      Yes, pheasant rump would look good on it.  I am thinking about trying to tie one making the bulk taper of the body with some foam to cut the weight down so it will ride higher in the water column. 

[Flysmallie]

I like this fly. Maybe a little too much weight for me but maybe not. 
 

On a little quest this year to do some nymphing for river bass and I think that one is going to make it into the box. 
 

Nice job Marty! 

[BilletHead]

 Thanks Ronnie,

   When I get the lighter version done if its a success will run it by you. 

[tjm]

Mono eyes would be lighter or the Brits use  "Booby flies" with  foam for eyes on damsels and dragons, a random example from the www

[Flysmallie]

2 hours ago, tjm said:

Mono eyes would be lighter or the Brits use  "Booby flies" with  foam for eyes on damsels and dragons, a random example from the www

I need to try something like that sometime. Maybe that will make the box too. 
 

I like Marty’s as is but it looks like he’s got a 1/2 oz of lead on there. LOL