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Current Tags for This Pattern
/ bead / Black / Damsel / damsel nymph / Dubbing / Great Lakes / marabou / Nymph / stillwater /

Marabou Damsel nymph

 
tied by catchandrelease
Fly Type: Nymphs,
Target Species: Freshwater Bass, Panfish,
Recommended Region: Northeast US,
Material List: Hook: 3XL streamer, 8-12
Thread: 8/0 To match
Eyes: Plastic bead chain, Black
Tail: Marabou fibers
Body: Dubbing of your choice (I like to use chopped up reaminders from the marabou to dub with)
Collar: Speckled hen spade Hackle
Tying Instructions: 1) Hook in vise, tie in bead chain on top of shank, about 1-2 eye lengths back.

2) Good clump of marabou feather, about 2 shank length. Tie in at bend of hook. Hold marabou fibers straight back and spiral wrap thread about 2/3 of the way back.

3)Wrap 5-6 times, then reverse spiral back to hook. (The spiral wraps are easier if you remove the hook from the vise after tying in the marabou and reverse the hook, a little bit klunky, either way.)

4)Dub thread, wrap to eyes. Tie in spade hackle, wrap once or twice (keep it sparse) and tie off.

5) Dub thread, figure 8 around the eyes, then build a tapered head. Whip and cement if desired.

The plastic eyes are light enough that the fly won't invert like a Clouser. And the mirrors in the local industrial park can't keep off this fly! I prefer to tie my damsels in olive to match the local population, but I'm guessing tan, green, and black might all be good colors to try as well.