Damselflies live in both flowing and still waters but fly fishermen target fish that feed on thenymphs during a hatch in lakes while the nymphs swim to shore where they crawl out of the water and hatch.

I first experienced fishing a damselfly hatch on Henry’s Lake in Idaho. I was using a Polly Rosborough’s( Tying And Fishing The Fuzzy Nymph) damselfly nymph. It was effective but being a fly tier I thought maybe I could improve on it. The pattern that evolved has proven deadly wherever I have used it during a damsel fly hatch. I have found that during a damselfly hatch some of the largest fish in the lake feed on the nymphs as they migrate to the shore.


– John Barr