Bodkin / Patterns

Chan's Baby Damsel Nymph

Nymph · Trout · Intermediate · 2 versions

Classic Recipe

  • Hook 2XL nymph/scud hook (curved shank), 12-14
  • Thread Olive 8/0 (70 denier)

Materials

  • Eyes Small black bead-chain or mono eyes (1 pair)
  • Tail Olive marabou (1 short clump)
  • Body Olive marabou (wrapped) or olive dubbing (as needed)
  • Rib Fine gold wire (1 length)
  • Thorax/wingcase Olive marabou fibers or pheasant tail (small bunch)

How to tie it

  1. Tie in small bead-chain eyes near the hook eye with figure-eight wraps so the fly rides level and swims like a damsel nymph.
  2. Run thread to the bend and tie in a short olive marabou tail, only about half the shank length, to imitate the stubby tail of a young damsel.
  3. Tie in fine gold wire, then wrap a slim body of olive marabou or dubbing forward to the thorax area.
  4. Counter-rib the gold wire forward in 4-5 open turns for segmentation and durability.
  5. Build a slightly fuller olive thorax and pull a few marabou fibers or pheasant tail over as a suggestion of a wing case, tying down behind the eyes.
  6. Figure-eight around the eyes, whip finish and cement.

Other versions

1 more in the app: Chan's Baby Damsel.

Tying videos

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