A slender, predatory, aquatic insect found in a variety of freshwater habitats here in New Zealand.

Shallow weed beds along the lake edges, backwaters, ponds and slow-moving weedy sections of rivers all provide the perfect environment for these insects to thrive in.

Damsel fly nymphs are expert ambush predators and will lie in wait on the substrate or submerged aquatic plants, once prey is near it enough its extendable jaws will snatch out grabbing the unsuspecting insect drawing it into its mouth to be devoured quickly.

Damsel fly nymphs are a favourite trout food especially from mid spring into summer and make up a large portion of our Southern lakes trout diet. Trout will forage for them along the shallow weed beds and bases of protruding aquatic vegetation which they cling onto. They move very slowly when swimming through the water column and have a distinctive side to side action which is very attractive to cruising trout in search of food.

A floating line with a long fine leader or slow intermediate fly line with a 10ft section of fine fluorocarbon tippet is perfect for fishing a Damsel fly pattern. A slow steady retrieve with an occasional lift of the rod tip is the best way to fish this pattern blind over weed bed's. If sight fishing to cruisers cast the fly a metre or two ahead into the path of the trout, let it sink a little then again a slow retrieve with a quick twitch as the fish approaches the fly is usually all that’s required to entice a take!