Damselflies and Dragonflies are very similar. The main differences are that Dragonflies are larger and cannot fold their wings over their back. Damsel flies are smaller and can fold their wings over their backs when they are at rest
Both Damsels and Dragons lay their eggs in the water, or in the trees surrounding lakes and streams.
Both Damsels and Dragons have an incomplete life cycle with the nymph stage being aquatic. The adult and nymphs of both of these insects are carnivorous, feeding on other insects and other small underwater creatures.
There are three types of Crustaceans in our freshwater. The three types are Copepods, Ostracods and Water fleas.
The first group, the Copepods are said to be the most numerous creatures on earth. There are said to be some of the most important sources of food to the fish of the earth. The Ostracods have very hard shells and are used to date prehistoric fossils. The Water Fleas are larger than the other two creatures and are a major component of the zooplankton that fish feed on.
Freshwater Leeches are found in lakes and ponds. They attach themselves to fish, turtles, humans and other mammals that go in the water where they are found. They detect their prey by their movement in the water and are excellent swimmers. Also known as freshwater shrimp they make excellent fish food.
All of the Fishing Fly Patterns in this Category imitate some sort of food that the fish are looking for or are an attractant or irritant to the fish. Either way they are all important patterns to carry when we are fishing.
Some Fishing Fly Patterns included in this group are;
| Assam Dragon | Atchison’s Damsel |
| Bighorn Scud | Black Filoplume Leech |
| Black Mini Leech | Black Rabbit Leech |
| Black Woolly Bugger | Black Woolly Leech |
| Blood Sucker | Blue Damsel |
| Blue Parachute Damsel | Braided Butt Damsel |
| Brown Filoplume Dragon | Brown Filoplume Leech |
| Brown Floating Dragon | Brown Woolly Bugger |
| Clauser’s Crayfish | Corixid |
| Damsel Fly Nymph | Doug’s Damsel |
| Don King | Eyed Damsel |
| Egg Sucking Leech | Flash Marabou Leech |
| Filoplume Damsel | Flesh Fly |
| Flashy Bugger | Fuzzy Brown Leech |
| Gammarus-Hyalella Scud Tan | Giant Damsel |
| Gierach Dragon | Girdle Bugger |
| Janssen’s Damsel | Jim’s Damsel |
| Lake Dragon | Lead Eyed Egg Leech |
| Marabou Damsel | Marabou Leech |
| Maroon Crystal Bugger | Maroon Rabbit Leech |
| Maroon Slight Leech | Miss Take |
| Mountain Damsel | Nyerges Nymph |
| Olive Damsel | Olive Filoplume Damsel |
| Olive Floating Dragon | Olive Gammarus-Hyalella Scud |
| Olive Mini Leech | Olive Parachute Damsel |
| Olive Slight Leech | Olive Woolly Bugger |
| Ostrich Damsel | Ostrich Scud |
| Peacock Dragon | Peacock Woolly Bugger |
| Pheasant Rump | Pink Shrimp |
| Pollywog | Red Head |
| Red Jig A Bugger | Red Leech |
| Red Mini Leech | SRI Marabou Damsel |
| Swimming Damsel | Trueblood’s Otter |
| Water Boatman | Weedless Woolly Bugger |
| White Jig a Bugger | Whit’s Damsel |
| Whit’s Dragon Nymph | Wingcase Damsel |