Fly Of The Week
Blue Mountain Dragon - (nymph)
Blue Mountain Dragon - (nymph)
By Dale McKain (aka Flyflicker)
Blue Mountain Anglers Pendleton, OR
Previous Flies
Fly Tying Terms

Blue Mountain Dragon - (nymph)

The concept of the Blue Mountain Dragon was introduced to me by Linda H. Foote of Redmond, OR.

Materials

    Hooks:  #8 TMC 200 R .

    Bead Head:  (optional) Gold bead.

    Thread:  Olive 6/0 or smaller.

    Body:  Marabou Quill and peacock herl.

    Ribbing:  Olive Krystal Flash.

    Wings:  Olive Krystal Flash.

    Tail:  Olive Marabou.

    Eyes:  Medium mono dragonfly eyes.

    Legs and collar:  Blue Peacock Breast Feather.

Tying Instructions:

1. Tear spikes off marabou tips. Measure marabou tail to shank length of hook, tie on marabou tail.

2. Tie marabou quill the length of hook shank to form body.

3. Tie on medium size mono dragonfly eyes. Tie in two strands of Krystal Flash on both sides of tail, trim to length of tail

4. Tie in two strands of Krystal Flash for body ribbing and horns. Tie in 4 – 5 peacock herl for body material.

5. Wrap body with peacock herl and rib with Krystal Flash; tie off Krystal Flash to create two horns that should extend over back and tail of fly.

6. Flair blue peacock breast feather; with six tip barbules extended forward to tie onto hook. Tie down tip barbules to secure feather and fold back to form legs.

7. Finished fly ~~ side view. With blue peacock breast feather extended ~~ wet feather and fold barbules towards tail of fly and collar fly with this hackle. Finish fly with whip finish and head cement.

8. Finished fly ~~ top view.

Fishing Suggestions:

Method for fishing the Blue Mountain Dragon (aka. Blue Dragon) is with a floating line with a 10 - foot leader and fluorocarbon tippet as a subsurface emerger; or using a stillwater line with 6 foot fluorocarbon leader.

When using a floating line the fly is often attacked upon entering the water; watch for a fish's swirl near the surface and reel to begin singing thereafter.

Using a retrieve strip whether using floating or sinking line, I usually retrieve slow to start with, and then use variable speeds throughout the retrieve; generally stripping line in 6" to 12" increments. If I feel a fish short striking the fly I will increase the speed of  retrieval to provoke an attack.

I have found the Blue Mountain Dragon to be a very effective fly whenever there are blue damsels or dragonflies visible around the water. Dale McKain (aka Flyflicker)