Bodkin / Patterns

Adult Damsel

Dry Fly · Trout · Intermediate · 3 versions

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Standard dry fly hook (Daiichi 1640 or similar), 12-16
  • Thread Blue 6/0

Materials

  • Extended body Braided damsel body or blue Antron/poly yarn (1)
  • Wingcase/post Blue 2mm foam (1 strip)
  • Wings Grizzly hackle points or blue poly yarn (2-4)
  • Hackle Grizzly neck hackle (1)
  • Thorax Blue Antron or wool dubbing (pinch)

How to tie it

  1. Start thread mid-shank. Tie in a braided or spun-Antron extended body reaching one and a half shank lengths past the bend for the classic slim adult damsel silhouette.
  2. Tie in a strip of blue 2mm foam pointing forward over the eye to serve as the parachute post and later fold-back wingcase; the foam keeps the fly riding high on stillwater.
  3. Tie in grizzly hackle points splayed to each side as spent wings, or lay a length of blue poly yarn across the shank and figure-eight it into low, delicate wings.
  4. Tie in a grizzly hackle by its stem at the base of the foam post.
  5. Dub a slim thorax of blue Antron up to the post, keeping the profile sparse.
  6. Wind the hackle parachute-style around the base of the post 4-5 turns, tie off, and trim.
  7. Fold the foam post back over the thorax to form a wingcase, secure behind the eye, whip finish and trim.

Other versions

2 more in the app: Damsel Adult, Burk's.

Tying videos

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