Bodkin / Patterns

Crystal Damsel

Nymph · Trout · Advanced · 1 version

Reference Recipe

• Hook 3XL nymph/streamer hook, slightly curved, 10-14
• Thread Olive 8/0

Materials

• Bead Black or gold bead (1, 5/64-1/8 in tungsten)
• Tail Olive marabou (1 short tuft)
• Rib Pearl Krystal Flash (2-3 strands)
• Body Olive ostrich herl (Krystal chenille or crystal dubbing)
• Wing case Pearl mylar (1 slip)
• Thorax Olive ostrich herl (crystal dubbing)
• Eyes Black ostrich herl (1 pr mono/bead-chain (optional))

How to tie it

1. Slide the bead to the eye, mount the hook and start olive thread behind the bead.
2. Bind a short olive marabou tail one shank length long. Damsels swim with a slim wiggling tail, so keep it sparse, half the marabou you think.
3. Tie in the pearl Krystal Flash strands at the tail, then dub or wrap a slim crystal body forward to the 65% mark.
4. Counter-wrap the Krystal Flash forward in 5-6 open turns for a segmented rib and tie off.
5. Bind a pearl mylar slip at the 65% mark pointing rearward to form the wing case.
6. Dub a slightly fatter crystal thorax up to the bead, leaving room to work.
7. Pull the mylar wing case forward over the thorax, seat it against the bead and bind down.
8. Whip finish behind the bead and add a drop of head cement.

← All fly patterns