Body Olive ostrich herl (select marabou plume, twisted into a rope)
How to tie it
Slide a 7/64 gold bead onto a size 10 scud hook, start light olive thread and tie the wire in.
Strip about an inch of marabou off the stem, gather it into a clump and tie it in at the rear, keeping it on top of the shank with a couple of wraps.
Jump the thread forward to sit right behind the bead, then twist the marabou hard into a rope and grip it with hackle pliers.
Wrap the rope forward. As you wrap it flares and tapers naturally, getting buggier toward the bead. That thickening front end is what reads as damsel legs.
Tie the marabou off behind the bead and trim, then bring the wire forward, wiggling it through the fibers so it segments the fly and binds the marabou down without trapping much.
Take a couple of tight turns behind the bead, tie off, whip finish and trim.