Bodkin / Patterns

Pheasant Tail Damsel

Nymph · Panfish · Largemouth Bass · Smallmouth Bass · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook 2XL nymph hook, 10-14
  • Thread olive 8/0

Materials

  • Pheasant tail fibers Olive-dyed pheasant tail fibers (small bunch)
  • Fine wire rib Gold wire (1 strand)
  • Peacock herl or olive dubbing Olive peacock herl dyed (as needed)
  • Bead-chain or mono eyes Black mono eyes small (1 pair)
  • Marabou (optional tail) Olive marabou (small tuft)

How to tie it

  1. Start thread and tie in a short, mobile olive marabou or pheasant-tail tail about half a shank long to mimic the damsel's swimming tail.
  2. Bind a gold wire, then wrap olive-dyed pheasant tail forward to the 60% mark for a slim, tapered abdomen.
  3. Counter-rib the abdomen with the wire in 5-6 open turns and tie off.
  4. Tie in bead-chain or mono eyes just behind the hook eye, splayed wide like a damsel nymph's.
  5. Dub or wrap an olive thorax around and behind the eyes, and pull a pheasant-tail wing case over the top, tying it down.
  6. Whip finish behind the eye, snip, and add head cement.

Tying videos

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