Bodkin / Patterns

Balanced Damsel

Nymph · Streamer · Trout · Intermediate · 2 versions

Reference Recipe

  • Hook 60° jig or straight scud hook, #8-12
  • Thread Olive 6/0

Materials

  • Balance pin Steel balance pin (Balance pin, extends past eye)
  • Bead Gold or black bead (Slotted tungsten on the pin)
  • Tail Olive ostrich herl (Marabou, one wiggly clump)
  • Body Olive ostrich herl (Marabou or damsel dubbing)
  • Rib Gold middle (Fine wire)
  • Eyes Black ostrich herl (Melted mono barbell, optional)
  • Collar Olive-brown material (Partridge fibers)

How to tie it

  1. Slide the bead onto the balance pin and mount the hook.
  2. Lash the pin along the top of the shank with the bead one bead width past the eye and lock it with superglue for a level hang.
  3. Tie in an olive marabou tail one shank length long. Keep it wispy so it wiggles like a swimming damsel.
  4. Bind in fine gold wire, then wrap or dub a slim olive body forward to just behind the bead and rib it with open turns.
  5. If using them, figure-8 small mono barbell eyes just behind the bead for the damsel's wide-set eyes.
  6. Add a swept-back partridge collar for legs and whip finish behind the bead.

Other versions

1 more in the app: Micro.

Tying videos

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