Nymph · Stillwater · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version
BCFlyguys
Hook Curved nymph hook, 14
Thread Fluorescent green 70 denier
Materials
Monofilament for burnt eyes Clear monofilament for burnt eyes (20 lb, one short piece)
Marabou Light olive marabou (Small pinch (tail))
Stretch floss Light olive stretch floss (Rib)
Scud back Light olive scud back (One narrow strip)
Diamond Dub or Ice Dub Light olive diamond dub or ice dub (Head)
How to tie it
Melt a pair of eyes from 20 lb mono and lash them about a hook-gap width back from the eye on a size 14 curved nymph hook, leaving room in front to finish. Loosen the thread and slide them centred once they are captured rather than fighting them into position.
Tie in a small pinch of light olive marabou at the bend for the tail, taking a couple of wraps underneath to prop it up. Fluffy marabou is chosen for movement. A swimming damsel's tail never stops.
Bind the marabou butts down with smooth wraps to keep the body slender; this is a thread-body fly, so any lump you leave will show. Pinch the tail to length.
Tie in light olive stretch floss behind the eyes and pull it tight before securing, then build the thread body forward with a slight taper toward the head.
Rib the stretch floss forward under real tension, keeping the body thin, tie it off and add a one or two turn whip finish immediately. Stretch materials unravel the moment you cut them if you do not lock them down.
Tie in light olive scud back, trimmed to a point for an easy tie-in, then dub a thin noodle of light olive Diamond Dub and build the bulbous head that damsel nymphs carry. Skinny body, big head, big eyes. That profile is the whole pattern.
Pull the scud back forward between the two eyes, whip finish tight, then rake the underside with a dubbing brush and trim the picked-out fibres into legs. It glows under UV, which is a good sign for ice-off water.