Pattern Description:
John Barr knows a thing or three about catching fish. He’s the most creative tyer of our time and here is his simple damsel nymph pattern.
Materials Needed:
Hook: TMC 200r #8-14
Thread: Olive 6/0
Eyes: Melted Mono
Tail: Olive marabou
Rib: 3x monofilament
Shellback: Tan Thinskin
Abdomen: Olive dubbing
Legs: Mallard Flank Dyed Olive
Thorax: Olive dubbing
Step 1
Tie on mono eyes about one fourth of the way back from the eye using x-wraps. Bring the thread to the bend of the hook.
Step 2
Tie in several strand of marabou for a short tail at the bend. Bring the butt ends of the marabou forward and tie them down again behind the eyes.
Step 3
Tie in a ten inch length of monofilament for the rib. Wrap back over the mono to the bend.
Step 4
Tie in a tapered strip of Thinskin at the bend of the hook.
Step 5
Dub the abdomen with a slight taper to just short of the eyes.
Step 6
Tie in a small clump of dyed mallard flank on each side at the front of the abdomen.
Step 7
Dub up to and around the eyes, forming a head that extends all the way to the hook eye.
Step 8
Pull the Thinskin strip up over the back of the fly and tie it down with a couple tight turns of thread.
Step 9
Spiral wrap the rib forward with tight wraps through the abdomen, and wider spacing through the thorax area. Tie the rib off at the eye and clip the excess mono and Thinskin flush. Build a smooth thread head and whip finish.