More on Fishing Dry Damselflies Wet
After the Braided Butt Damsel post, I got a couple of questions about fishing damselfly adult patterns wet. Using the BB Damsel pattern shown, with a yarn parachute post (versus foam), the fly can be fished “damp” easily (just fish “sans floatante“). If you need to get the fly deeper, or are fishing a pattern meant to float strongly (such as one that incorporates foam parts), then split shot, a sinking braided or poly leader, or a sink-tip line, can all do the trick.
I often prefer to fish damsel adults wet after a significant egg-laying episode and/or during/after a strong wind during egg-laying or emergence. If blind-fishing, a slow, steady retrieve or a few quick strips, followed by a dead-sink (and repeat) can be effective. If sight-fishing, timing the sinking of the fly to match the fish’s level at interception is a good tactic (here is where a, umm, “fly suspension device” can be helpful). Often, there is no time for such a well-crafted approach, so generally dead-sinking or slowly swimming the fly in front of a fish is often effective. Worked for that brown above…
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