Lake Dragon

HOOK: TMC 5263, sizes 6-10; weighted, with lead flattened in rear half THREAD: To match abdomen EYES: Burned monofilament TAIL: Marabou to match abdomen RIB: Copper wire ABDOMEN: Olive deer hair, spun and clipped close LEGS: Olive filoplume to match abdomen WINGCASE: Turkey; use a Pantone pen to color HEAD: Olive Haretron to match abdomen

Uses

Imitates the nymphs of dragonflies. Dragonfly nymphs live up to three years before hatching into adults. Trout don't get to eat them very often, but they make a big, juicy meal when they are encountered, so the sight of a cruising dragonfly nymph can catch a trout's interest.

 
Dragonfly nymphs come in two main varieties: climbers and sprawlers. This pattern imitates the former.

Variations

Olive, olive-brown, and brown are the usual shades of the natural insect.

How to Fish

Use a count-down-and-retrieve presentation. Move the fly in short strips with a pause between each strip.