Dry FliesParachute Damsel
The Parachute Damsel is a delicate adult damselfly imitation featuring a parachute hackle design for excellent floatation and visibility. This pattern uses polypropylene macrame yarn in light and dark blue for a realistic tail, thin foam for the wingcase, Superfine Dubbing for the slim body, and a speckled Coq de Leon rooster saddle hackle wound parachute-style around the foam post. The result is a highly visible, stable-floating damselfly pattern perfect for stillwater fishing.
Spring, Summer
Intermediate
Trout
Dec 2025
Overview
This Charlie Craven pattern from Charlie's Fly Box represents a proven approach to adult damselfly imitation using parachute construction. The two-tone macrame yarn tail suggests the segmented abdomen of adult damselflies while providing excellent visibility. The foam wingcase serves double duty as both wing representation and the post for the parachute hackle. The speckled Coq de Leon hackle adds to the natural appearance while providing superior floatation. The Daiichi 1640 hook provides the ideal long-shank profile for damselfly patterns while keeping the hook gap appropriate for consistent hookups.
Materials
Hook: Daiichi 1640, #12
Thread: Veevus 14/0, black
Tail: Polypropylene Macrame Yarn, light blue and dark blue
Wing Case: Thin Fly Foam 2mm, blue
Body: Superfine Dubbing, blue
Hackle: Coq de Leon Rooster Saddle
Behavior & Presentation
Natural Behavior: Adult damselflies rest on the surface after emergence or return to oviposit, their slender bodies and translucent wings creating delicate silhouettes. Egg-laying females dip repeatedly, touching the film with abdomens extended.
Where Trout Eat It: Trout cruise stillwater edges targeting adult damselflies blown onto the surface or resting after emergence.
How to Fish It: Present ahead of cruising fish with long leaders. Let the fly sit motionless between subtle twitches suggesting struggle.
Best Water: Reed margins and weed edges in stillwater where females crawl underwater to lay eggs.
Strike Type: Trout sip damselflies with gentle rises or sudden splashes depending on insect activity levels.
Fishing Strategy
Rigging Suggestions: Fish on a 9-12 foot leader tapering to 5X-6X tippet. The parachute design lands softly and rides stable on the surface. Apply floatant to the hackle and foam post before fishing.
Seasonal Timing: Most effective during late and when adult damselflies are abundant around lake edges and slow-moving streams. Peak activity occurs on warm, calm days when damselflies are most active.
Pro Tips: The foam wingcase and parachute hackle provide excellent floatation while the blue coloration aids angler visibility. The pattern sits low in the surface film with the body penetrating the meniscus like a natural damselfly.
Entomology
Adult damselflies occasionally land on the water surface when exhausted from mating flights or blown by wind, becoming vulnerable prey items. Trout recognize these large, brightly colored insects as opportunistic feeding chances that deliver significant caloric rewards with little effort.
- Order
- Odonata
- Family
- Coenagrionidae
- Common Name
- Damselfly
- Organism Type
- insect
- Life Stage
- adult