TWISTED DAMSEL

It’s a typical summer day at your favorite stillwater pond. Might be a small city park pond, or could be a protected bay or cove of a really big lake. Chances are that damsels and dragonflys will be flitting around. Maybe you are just hanging out on the bank, taking in nature. Maybe you are walking the bank, rod in hand, keenly looking ahead for rising fish. Or, maybe you are out on the water in a float tube or kayak, cruising the shoreline with a long rod, casting back to shore.

The target could be any number of species of fish—trout most commonly, but the list could include bass, sunfish, and others, depending on the type of pond and its altitude. You might be throwing a small insect pattern such as a mayfly, maybe twitching a wooly bugger, or tossing a scud into still water.

But for an explosion on top, a damsel can bring a jolt of excitement.

There are a number of great damsel patterns out there, all designed to mimic the real bug, and at the same time float on top. For me, when it comes to flotation, if I can use foam, I will. It comes in multiple colors, various thicknesses, cuts easily, and can be shaped in numerous ways, including cutting tools to match the insect’s general body form.

Simplicity also matters, which is where this pattern gets the vote. Simplicity and flotation—a great combination. I have tried to sink this fly both at home and in a real water, and it holds its flotation very well. Foam floats almost indefinitely, of course, and the wing material is pre-treated with a water repellent. With the wing spread out and lying to the side of the hook, the wings act as pontoons, keeping the body up. A few false casts will usually dry the fly enough to restore flotation, or an occasional redressing of floatant will help.

Having only three components besides the thread itself, it ties quickly with a silhouette very close to the real fish food. Being foam, its one drawback is durability. After a few fish, the foam can get cut and require a retie.

For blind fishing, cast it with a hard plop and let it lay. Then after a short wait, give it a twitch with the rod tip. Add a short strip. Pick up and repeat a few feet away. Or, if you can see and anticipate cruising or rising fish, get out in front of them a few feet and just wait.

Although blue is the typical damsel color, try other muted foam colors such as brown or olive. Tie small ones, or big ones, as there are often different sizes at different waters. About The Author

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Joel Evans is a fly fishing writer, photographer, and long-time member of Trout Unlimited from Montrose, CO. You can contact him via the HCA editor at frank@ hcamagazine.com.

TWISTED FOAM DAMSEL

HOOK: DRY 10 3X LONG THREAD: 3/0 BLUE OR OLIVE FOAM: 2M BLUE WING: PARA POST WHITE LEGS: FLEX FLOSS MINI BLACK SHARPIE: PEN BLACK

TYING INSTRUCTIONS:

Watch the video, then:

Cut foam into a very thin strip. Cut off a 2” section. On one end, trim the butt to a point to have a minimal capture point. Capture foam at extreme hook bend with other end extending back over bend, using minimal thread wraps to avoid buildup. Twist extended foam in fingers just enough to have visible twists, but not so much as to be tight. Double the twisted foam back to bend to form a twisted and extended tail.

Tie down foam at bend with minimal wraps. Move thread forward to 3/4 point. Wrap untwisted foam around shank, using a soft wrap so as not to compress the foam. Tie off and trim at thread. Cut a long length 2-3 inches of wing material, and mount on top of shank. One at a time, loop wing back to shank and tie down. Wing loop should be extended flat and away from shank. Trim wing material.

Figure 8 the wing with tight wraps behind the wing to force it forward at a 90-degree angle. The head room in front of the wing is longer than most flies, about 3 eye-widths. Use the head room to first add legs, then bulk up the head with thread. Legs should be to the side or down slightly. Whip finish. Lightly cement head and wing. Add spaced black band on the foam with marker. Add fly floatant to entire fly, especially the wings. Adding now will allow it to dry before use, enhancing flotation.