For most young people starting out, directions to fish with a flyline may be too advanced. However, they are included for those that may have the resources, knowledge and experience to actually go out, fly cast and fish with proper fly fishing gear.

Describing how to fish a dragonfly nymph pattern is complicated by the fact that there are two types of dragonfly nymphs, the Darner and the Gomphus. They both live among the vegetation and debris found in the shoal/drop-off areas. However, they feed and move very differently. ThedDarner is an aggressive feeder and can swim quickly. It can take in water and eject it. This makes them "jet" ahead. The gomphus tends to crawl along the bottom among the vegetation and wait for its food to come to it.

If you don't notice any emergence activities, go to the shoal/drop-off area. Cast out your sinking line and allow the fly to sink to near the bottom. if you are imitating the darner nymph make a quick 20 cm pull. Pause then repeat this action. You can even make several quick pulls of this nature before pausing. This motion reflects how a darner nymph takes in water, then ejects it to "jet" ahead.

To imitate the gomphus nymph, do the same as mentioned above but retrieve differently. Just move it along very slowly. You would probably be better off with a fly made of a buoyant material. That will keep it off the bottom and prevent it from hooking up there.

Should you observe dragonfly nymphs emerging, you will need to change your approach. At this stage the dragonfly nymphs are crawling along the bottom towards shore. Once they reach shore, they crawl up on shoreline vegetation and change into their winged adult form.

To fish the dragonfly pattern at this time, position yourself near or on the shore. Cast out your sinking line and allow the fly to sink to near the bottom. Retrieve the pattern with slow steady pulls. Throw in a quick jerk once in a while.