To properly learn the techniques and flies presented in this website, work your way through the Basic Skills sections and then do the listed flies in the recommended order. Each fly builds on previously learned skills. They become harder as you move along. Make sure you build several of each fly to solidify your skills at each step.

Importance to Fly Fishing

Dragonfly nymphs can grow to large sizes for an insect (up to 5 cm in length). To fish they represent a decent mouthful of nutrition. During the summer months, during a hatch, large masses of nymphs will crawl along the bottom of the lake toward the shore. They are looking for vegetation tall enough so they can crawl up and out of the water. These movements attract fish who will then go on a feeding binge. If you observe dragonfly nymphs on the shore, on reeds, etc., it is time to tie on a pattern like the one shown here.

This pattern, compared to most dragonfly patterns, uses basic materials and techniques. You shouldn’t find it overly difficult to tie. It may be necessary to tie a few of them until you get a product that you are happy with. This is standard for all fly tiers of all experiences. If you decide to really go for this hobby, you’ll need to tie this fly on a bigger hook: size 6 or even 4. First, get the shown pattern under control. Then, if you get some bigger hooks, you may want to try adding eyes like with the damselfly nymph. NB: Do not add eyes when using the size 8 hook. You won’t have enough room.

In the Basic Skills sections you learned how to

• smash down the barb
• put the hook in the vice
• start the thread

Please do the above. Make sure the thread is at the bend of the hook.

Take the pheasant tail feather and separate 4 to 6 fibers. Pull them perpendicular to the stem. This will make the tips even. Cut the fibers close to the stem.

Place them over the hook as shown. Have the tail project about 1 cm or less beyond the bend of the hook. Use the pinch to tie them in. Wrap thread over the fibers half way up the shank and then back to the bend. Snip off the excess.

Place an 8 cm length of chenille over the hook. the end should also be about 2/3 of the way up the hook. Tie in using the pinch. Wrap thread over the chenille and return the thread to the bend.

Tie in some thin yarn or string. You’ll need a piece about 40 cm long. Shown here is some thin red wool yarn. The precise material or colour is not important. As long as it is not thick.

Use the string or yarn to build a football shaped mass. It should cover the rear 2/3 of the hook (no more than that).

Use the thread to bind down the mass into a firm shape. Dragonfly nymphs are bulky creatures. That is why an underbody, as shown, is important.

Next wrap the chenille over the underbody. Tie it off where the underbody ends. Clip off the excess.

Next select a grizzly hackle. Choose a shorter one, about 8-10 cm long. Leave the longer hackles for the woolly worms and woolly buggers. Pull off the soft, fluffy fibers from the bottom.

This time place the stem over the tie in point. Position it so it will get tied in just where the barbules start. Wrapping the hackle at this point will provide the legs. The barbules near the bottom are longer and therefore preferred. After firmly tying in the hackle, clip off the extra stem material.

Grip the tip of the hackle (you may want to clip on the hackle pliers). Make three close wraps. Each wrap should be just ahead of the other. After each wrap pull back the fibers with your left thumb and two fingers. Then make the next wrap.

After the three wraps, let the hackle plier dangle. Pull back the barbules with your left thumb and fingers. Tie off the hackle and clip off the excess material. Make a few more thread wraps to secure everything.

Give the top of the fly a “haircut”.

Now take the pheasant tail and cut off a bunch of fibers 4 - 5 mm wide. Before cutting do not separate the fibers. You want them stuck to each other. Pull away the cut bunch of fibers as one unit.

Now place this bunch of fibers over the hook as shown. Tie them in. Make at least two loose wraps around these fibers. Then gently pull tight. Make a few more firm wraps to lock the bunch into place. Trim the excess materials sticking out the front.

Here is a view from above. Trim this group of fibers about 1/3 way over the abdomen as shown. This forms the wingcase.

Next tie in a 5 cm length of chenille. If there is any excess, clip it off. Cinch in the chenille near where the hackle has been wrapped.

Wrap the chenille around the remaining shank twice. Tie off the chenille and snip off the remaining amount.

Build a thread head, secure with 5 half hitch knots, snip the thread, and add head cement.

Here is the completed taylor dragon

Click Here for more dragonfly patterns.

Teacher Support Materials for this Section

How to fish the taylor dragon

How to troll flies