Bodkin / Patterns

Sierra Damsel

Nymph · Trout · Advanced · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook 3XL nymph / curved scud hook, 10-14
  • Thread olive 8/0 (70D)

Materials

  • Tail Olive ostrich herl (sparse marabou tuft)
  • Rib Gold middle (fine wire, one length)
  • Abdomen Olive ostrich herl (marabou or dubbing)
  • Wingcase Olive thin skin mottled (slip of pheasant tail)
  • Eyes Black ostrich herl (small mono/burnt eyes (optional))
  • Thorax Olive ostrich herl (small pinch dubbing)
  • Legs Brown silly legs nymph size (few partridge fibers)

How to tie it

  1. Start thread at the bend and tie in a slim olive marabou tail about half a shank long. Keep it sparse so it breathes.
  2. Tie in the fine gold wire for the rib.
  3. Wrap or dub a slim, slightly tapered abdomen forward to the 70% mark.
  4. Counter-rib the wire 5-6 open turns and helicopter it off.
  5. Tie in an olive pheasant-tail slip over the back for the wingcase, tips pointing rearward.
  6. Optional: figure-8 small mono eyes at the front for the tell-tale wide damsel head.
  7. Dub a slightly fatter thorax behind the eyes.
  8. Pull the wingcase over the thorax and bind it behind the eye; sweep a few partridge fibers underneath as legs.
  9. Whip finish and cement.

Tying videos

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