How to Tie a Dragonfly Nymph

A dragonfly nymph fly is made to mimic the hatching nymph phase of dragonflies. This fly is effective when fishing for spring or late summer trout. The dragonfly nymph is an intricate fly, yet it's a basic design that allows for modification with colors and hook size, all dictated by the time of year, hatch and geographic location of your fishing stream. The best way to determine what colors and size to use for your area is to catch a few nymphs, examine them and then try to match the nymph via hook size and feather coloration.

Things You'll Need

  • TMC 5263 hook
  • .006 olive thread
  • Forceps
  • Tying vise
  • Olive chenille
  • Leech yarn
  • Turkey tail feather
  • Bead chain-back eyes
  • Pheasant feathers
  • Clippers
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the hook into the vise and turn it with the hook's curve facing down and in toward the vise. Wrap the thread along the shaft, halfway from the eye hook toward the curve. Use forceps to grip the fine thread and make the wraps around the hook shank.

    • 2

      Place 12 inches of chenille on the upper shank and wrap it tightly around the shank up to the eye hook four times.

    • 3

      Wrap backward and then out with the chenille at least 20 times to shorten the length and make a thin strand of the chenille, mimicking the length of a dragonfly nymph.

    • 4

      Place a 2-inch section of turkey feather over the top of the hook shank and fluff it out to make the thorax of the dragonfly. Secure it to the shank with four or five wraps of the thread. Insert the eyes onto the eye hook of the fly hook itself and push it down to the thorax.

    • 5

      Place two pieces of the pheasant feathers up to the shank and wrap down with the thread. Trim the feathers down to 1 inch, so they mimic the dual wings of a dragonfly nymph.

    • 6

      Cut an 8-inch piece of the leach yarn and add it to the fly lengthwise, starting at the eyes. Wrap five or six thread coils around the leach, then cut and tuck it to secure the knot and fly. Remove the fly from the vise and smooth it down by running it between your fingers.