Ah, the ol’ Blue Damsel—now there’s a fly that’ll make trout lose their minds when the hatch is on. I mean, seriously, you ever seen a fish ignore one of these things when those blue bastards are flitting around? Not in my experience, anyway.

So, let’s talk about how this thing’s tied. Most folks—and I’m guilty of this too—reach for a dry fly hook, somewhere between a 10 and 14, though I’ve got a buddy who swears by going down to a 16 when the fish get picky. (Personally, I think he’s nuts, but hey, whatever works.) Body’s usually blue—thread, floss, foam, take your pick—and then you wanna wrap it with something clear, like, uh… what’s it called… that thin plastic stuff?Anyway, gives it that segmented look, like the real deal.

Now, the wings—here’s where people get fussy. Some tie ’em straight out, some arch ’em back. Me? I like ’em a little messy, kinda sticking out sideways, ’cause damselflies don’t exactly land all neat and tidy, you know? And don’t skimp on the eyes—big, dumb, and obvious. Fish notice that. Oh, and legs—just a few wispy hackle fibers, nothing fancy.Damselflies are delicate, not some clunky stonefly.

Speaking of, this thing’s supposed to be an adult damselfly, specifically the blue ones that drive fish nuts late spring into summer. They’re all over stillwater—lakes, ponds, you name it—especially near reeds and lily pads. That’s where you wanna fish this bad boy. Cast it out, let it sit like a lazy bug sunbathing, or give it a twitch now and then like it’s struggling. Either way, fish lose their damn minds.

One thing? Don’t overwork it. I see guys jerking it around like it’s a streamer, and—no. Just no. Damselflies aren’t exactly Olympic swimmers. A little movement goes a long way. And if you ask me, foam bodies float better than thread, but hey, that’s just my two cents. Some purists’ll fight you over it.

Last thing—timing. When you see those blue bugs buzzing around, that’s your cue. Fish’ll be looking up, waiting. Miss that window, and you might as well be throwing a shoelace. Trust me, I’ve learned that the hard way.