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Black's FliesFly Angler Distributing
Rio Products
Umpqua
Black's Flies
B's Damsel Nymphtop
Damsel Nymph
Damsel Nymph Pattern
BC Damsel Nymphtop
Damsel Nymph
Damsel Nymph with extended body
Bottom Walkertop
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Dragonfly Nymph
Dragonfly Nymph Pattern
Dragon Rubberlegtop
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Dragonfly Nymph
Dragonfly Nymph Pattern with Foam Booby Eyes
Gomphus Dragontop
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Dragonfly Nymph
Gomphus Dragonfly Nymph
Jan's Damseltop
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Damsel Nymph
Damsel Nymph Pattern
Josiah's Damsel Nymphtop
Damsel Nymph
Damsel Nymph Pattern
Powder Damseltop
Damsel Nymph
Damsel Nymph Pattern
Fly Angler Distributing
Butler's Dragontop
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Dragonfly Nymph
Dragonfly Nymph Pattern
Gomphus Dragontop
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Dragonfly Nymph
Gomphus Dragonfly Nymph
Interior Dragontop
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Dragonfly Nymph
Dragonfly Nymph Pattern
Lake Dragontop
Kaufmann's
Kaufmann's Lake Dragon
Mono Eyed Damseltop
Damsel Nymph
Damsel Nymph Pattern
Nealley's Dragontop
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Dragonfly Nymph
Nealley's Dragonfly nymph
No Name Damseltop
Damsel Nymph
Damsel Nymph Pattern
Whitlock's Damsel Nymphtop
Damsel Nymph
Damsel Nymph Pattern
Whitty Damseltop
Damsel Nymph
Damsel Nymph Pattern
Rio Products
Dainty Damseltop
Damsel Nymph
This slimmed down Damsel Nymph pattern has a marabou tail that moves with the swimming motion of the real insect, and features a pulled over deer hair head that keeps this fly neutrally buoyant.
Morrish Level Headed Damseltop
Damsel Nymph
I have always seen the damsel fly nymph as one of the harder insects to imitate. First, anglers must let go of the concept or illusion that they can imitate their swimming motion, as that is essentially impossible. They simply wiggle laterally way too much for any material or retrieve to even get in the ballpark. Yet most existing patterns cling to the marabou tail, and this design-fail twice, as marabou tails don't move as desired, and they do a very poor job at mimicking the damsel fly nymph's distinctive slender profile. So, since the motion is essentially impossible to mimic, the Morrish Level Headed Damsel doubles down on the elements that can be imitated. First is the thin, elegant profile including the distinct fanned-out triple tail. Also important are the long slender legs and the large dark eyes. Finally is creating a truly balanced fly that sit slightly head-up in a horizontal plane. This fly took 15 design iterations to get right, and while it can be cast and retrieved, it is at its most deadly when suspended under a dry or indicator in modest chop.
Umpqua
Balanced Zack Attack Damseltop
Damsel Nymph
Damsel nymph tied balanced
Hula Damseltop
Damsel Nymph
When Damsel Nymphs actively migrate to the shallows their active swimming motion poses a problem for fly designers: The damsel's head remains stationary while the abdoment/tail moves rapidly side to side. Many have tried to design damsel nymphs to duplicate this motion. To mimic the sinusoidal movement of the damsel, I chose to use two hooks linked with a piece of mono. The key here is now the two hooks are joined. The articulated abdomen moves horizontally and not vertically. As the fly is stripped through the water, the abdomen does move from side to side just like the hula, hence the name.
Mini Leech Jig Damseltop
Damsel Nymph
Tied on an Umpqua Jig Hook with a tungsten bead, the micro pine squirrel matched with the ostrich herl collar provide enough buoyancy that it suspends balanced without the need of an extended pin and bead.
Picky Fish Damseltop
Damsel Nymph
Damsel nymph pattern with a foam head
Sierra Damseltop
Burk's
Burk's Sierra Damsel Nymph Pattern