Dragon Fly Nymphs (Chuck, Duck & Dredge)

It is too easy for stillwater fly fishers to settle upon the ubiquitous Woolly Bugger. The scope of mental exercise becomes what color or color combo. I am not saying I don’t also fall into this accommodating trap. But, I am mindful of what is going on about me and what has worked in the past when I went with those observations.

An aside: I have this affinity for Dragon Flies. They are my mental good luck charm. OK, true story…maybe conincidence…maybe not: I was recently running my finger nails down the blackboard fishing a chironomid pupa down into a weed bed to little avail. All about me dragon flies were hovering before me. Ok, you might say I was providing some form of structure that they were encountering upon emergence. I, however, saw it as a prompting. I know, I know.

So, I re-rigged with a Fuzzy Dragon and back a bit out of the weeds. I lobbed and let the creation sink to the depths. I worked about the edge of the weed beds near the drop off the shoal and yes the hit came. Not a particularly big fish…maybe 13″ BUT, the karma became immediately apparent: the trout had taken my substantial nymph, while trailing about the following: a treble hook attached to 24″ of Stren blue leader attached to a much too big snap/swivel and then an additional 12″ of heavy mono. The line must have been scored or nicked as this little guy would not have had the steam to break the steelhead capable line. I performed the extrication of my Fuzzy Dragon and the fortunately accessible treble hook (Power Bait plunking, I am sure). The fish swam off quite happy and I muttered a thank you to the Dragon Flies. No not the ravages of alcohol or chemicals. Just ridiculously superstitious at times.         

So, I have shown the Fuzzy Dragon before, but worth a re-showing given its role in the remarkeable above interlude. 

The materials for this fly were selected by its creator, Tony Muncy..then in his early teens. A buggy, impressionistic creation, it has been a great producer. Weighted or unweighted (wire wrapped about shank rather than weighted eyes). If you weight the fly, make certain the rod is strong enough to load that weight or the fly will drop behind you and provide you a rude smack to your back side somewhere! Barb the hook to facilitate hook removal from the fish or your backside. The body can be dubbed or a fuzzy leech yarn or wool yard can be wrapped and brushed out. Even chenille or darker sparkle chenille could be used. The Fuzzy Foam comes in sheets of different colors. It is cut into strips and tied in as an over layer. The important part of the fly is to keep it round, counter weighted in a way so it is not top heavy. It should be cast down to the depths and allowed to settle, then retrieved while visualizing it the predator. Pausing and darting. Hits are hard on this fly. I am glad the trout towing the plunker’s rig about was hungry and capable.