Bodkin / Patterns

Morrish Level Headed Damsel

Nymph · Streamer · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Barbless jig hook, 12
  • Thread Olive 8/0 (70 denier)

Materials

  • Slotted tungsten bead Olive/black slotted tungsten bead (1, seated on the jig for balance)
  • Marabou Olive marabou (1 tip (tail) plus a bit for the body)
  • Monofilament Black/melted eyes (1 short length (dumbbell eyes))
  • Fine dubbing or pheasant tail Olive ice dub (for thorax)
  • Round rubber or hackle legs Olive/barred hackle (1 pair)

How to tie it

  1. Seat the bead on the jig hook so the finished fly will hang horizontally and slightly head-up, the balanced-damsel goal.
  2. Start thread and tie in a short olive marabou tail at the bend, fanned into a triple-tail impression, kept to about a shank length.
  3. Wrap or dub a slim tapered olive abdomen forward to the 60% mark, keeping the profile thin and elegant.
  4. Just behind the bead, figure-8 a pair of melted-mono dumbbell eyes across the top to sit wide like a damsel's, and add a pair of splayed legs beneath.
  5. Dub a small olive thorax around the eyes and up to the bead.
  6. Whip finish behind the bead and add a drop of cement.

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