Bodkin / Patterns

Belly Flop Balanced Damsel

Nymph · Trout · Intermediate · 2 versions

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Jig/balanced nymph hook with extension pin, 10-12
  • Thread Olive 8/0

Materials

  • Bead Gold (tungsten) bead (1, on the extension pin ahead of the eye)
  • Tail Olive marabou (Short tuft)
  • Body Olive marabou/dubbing (Slim)
  • Rib Copper thorax stripe (Fine wire)
  • Eyes Black ostrich herl (Mono barbell, at mid-shank)
  • Thorax Olive dubbing (Small pinch)

How to tie it

  1. Lay a straight pin along the front of the hook shank, slide the tungsten bead onto the pin so it sits ahead of the eye, and lash the pin and bead firmly to the shank. This is what balances the fly.
  2. Start the thread and bind mono barbell eyes near the mid-shank to keep the hook riding level.
  3. At the bend tie in a short olive marabou tail, one gap long, and bind in the copper rib.
  4. Wrap a slim olive body forward to the eyes and counter-wrap the rib in 5-6 turns, then snip.
  5. Dub a small thorax around and ahead of the eyes.
  6. Build a small head behind the bead and whip finish.

Other versions

1 more in the app: Fly Fish Food Tie.

Tying videos

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