FLY OF THE MONTH – JUNE 2025

THE BLUE FLASH DAMSEL

HOOK: Size 10 wet fly.
HEAD: 3.2mm green bead
THREAD: Olive 8/0
TAIL: Olive marabou with 4 strands of blue flashabou over
BODY: Dubbed olive seal’s fur
RIB: Blue flashabou
HACKLE: Olive dyed partridge

Like most relatively modern flies, this one has quite a few variations, especially when you look online for the pattern. This is the one I use the most, it is straightforward to tie and most commercially available examples are very similar. Every fly dresser seems to have their own favourite variation but simplified or embellished, they all work pretty much the same. Basically, it is a lure in all but name but if you see damsel flies about this is definitely worth a cast or two. The male fly is most noticeable with its electric blue body, the female is a drab olive colour.

Damsel flies have a large aquatic nymph which swims to shore when it is ready to hatch into the adult fly. It will usually swim just below the surface, looking like a small fish. It is now when it becomes an easy target for the trout which can take them enthusiastically with a lot of commotion at the surface. The nymph can vary in colour from light green to dark brown, but a mid-olive is probably the most popular colour to try. When they reach dry land, the nymph will crawl out and after a short while the adult fly will emerge.

During the latter half of June and into July, you may come across fish feeding on pin fry. These will be perch or dace fry which are only about 15 – 20 mm in length. They are semi-transparent with prominent eyes, a silver belly and red around the gills. During calm conditions fry can be seen dimpling the surface in large shoals and the trout will not be far away. Try a Sinfoil’s Fry, Peter Ross, Butcher or a Silver Invicta, all of which look like small fish. A small floating fry using deer hair or white foam fry are also worth a cast.

Most flies mentioned in previous months will continue to work, especially those to imitate midge pupae which are now larger and in a wider variety of colours.

From the end of May for a couple of months there will be some Mayfly hatching at the surface. These large upwing flies are easily imitated but I have generally found that the trout seem to be quite scared of such a large floating fly. The fish will often ignore them or just splash at them. Having said that I have spoken to other members at Hallington and some have had good fishing with dry mayflies. It is still worth trying a floating imitation if you see fish taking them but a nymph imitation such as Walker’s Mayfly Nymph will probably produce more hook-ups.

Phil Bilbrough