Damselfly Fishing: Stillwater's Summer Secret

Description

Damselflies are thinner, more delicate cousins of dragonflies. Identifying them is easy: at rest, Damselflies fold their wings back parallel to their body, while Dragonflies hold theirs out perpendicular like airplane wings. For the stillwater angler, the Damselfly Migration is one of the premier events of the summer. Thousands of nymphs swim en masse toward the shore to hatch, causing trout to patrol the shallows in a frenzy.

Life Cycle Stages

Nymph

The nymph is long and slender (1-1.5 inches). Examples: Olive, Tan, or Brown. It has three leaf-like gills at the tail. The Migration: In early-to-mid summer, mature nymphs leave the safety of deep weed beds and swim toward shore to climb out on cattails or rocks to hatch. This vulnerability is when fish key on them.

Recommended Fly Patterns

Pat's Rubber Legs

#6-#12

Black, Brown, Coffee, Coffee/Black, Dark Olive/Black, Olive/Brown, Yellow/Brown

Twenty Incher

#6-#12

Brown, Black

Kaufmann's Stone

#4-#10

Golden, Brown, Black

Adult

The adult is slender and often brilliantly colored (electric blue is common). While trout eat adults that fly too low or fall in (especially during windy days), the nymph is the main course.

Recommended Fly Patterns

Thunder Thighs Hopper

#6-#12

Black, Pink, Tan, Yellow

Charlie Boy Hopper

#8-#14

Tan, Yellow, Olive, Brown

Hippie Stomper

#10-#14

Black, Purple, Red, Olive, Tan

Madam X

#8-#14

Yellow, Olive, Tan, Brown

Fat Albert

#6-#12

Black, Purple, Tan, Yellow

Dave’s Hopper

#6-#12

Yellow, Tan, Olive, Brown

Morrish Hopper

#6-#12

Tan/Brown, Tan/Yellow, Olive

Parachute Ant

#14-#20

Black, Cinnamon, Brown

Chubby Chernobyl

#6-#14

Tan, Gold, Olive, Purple, Black, Yellow

Schroeder’s Parachute Hopper

#10-#14

Olive, Tan, Brown, White Post

Sofa Pillow

#4-#10

Orange/Brown

Salmonfly Adult

#4-#10

Black, Brown, Orange

Amy's Ant

#10-#14

Tan, Olive, Red

Foam Beetle

#12-#18

Black, Olive

Chernobyl Ant

#8-#16

Black, Brown, Tan, Orange Indicator

Habitat

Damselflies are primarily creatures of lakes, ponds, and slow backwaters. They live in aquatic vegetation (weed beds). The nymphs use their tail gills to swim with a distinctive, rhythmic sinusoidal wiggle.

Behavior

The migration typically happens in the morning (9 AM - 12 PM) during June and July. Trout will cruise the "drop-off" ledges or weed lines, intercepting the swimming nymphs. Because the nymphs swim horizontally, a retrieved fly is often more effective than a static one.

Fishing Information

Seasonality June and July (Summer).

Tactics

The Wiggle: Fish a marabou damselfly nymph. The marabou breathes creates the life-like wiggle.
Strip Retrieve: Use a slow, rhythmic strip-pause retrieve. Mimic the swim-rest-swim cadence.
Intermediate Line: A clear intermediate sinking line is perfect for keeping the fly in the zone (2-5 feet deep) above the weeds.
Shoreline: Cast parallel to the shore or into pockets in the weeds.
Dry Fly: On windy days, adult damsels get blown onto the water. A blue foam dry fly can be electric.

Recommended Patterns