Plaited Damsel Nymph Nymph Freshwater Hook : Size 12 short shank Gamagatsu. Thread : Green or yellow to match marabou. Eyes : 1/100 wt lead eyes ( extra small ) or bead chain painted black. Head : Olive marabou ( the same piece of material as the tail). Tail : Plaited olive marabou. Wing case : Pheasant tail olive.
Tying Instructions 1/.secure eyes a few millimeters back from the hook eye using the X method. Wrap shank with thread. 2/.select a clump of marabou so that when you slim it down with your fingers it is about as thick or round as a match stick. 3/.when you attach the marabou at the hook bend do it roughly in the middle of the feather leaving about 30- 40 mm of marabou tips past the hook bend and same above. Secure the marabou on top of the shank just at the start of the hook bend, do not bind all the way up the shank, just attach at rear. Do not cut off the excess above the tail it will be used to dub / wind on for the body and head. 4/ at the same point you attached the marabou secure the bunch of pheasant tail for the wing case. 5/. now wind the marabou around the shank and build the thorax, secure with wraps of thread as you go i.e. one wrap of marabou and one of thread, continue toward and around eyes should be two or three wraps, tie off at hook eye 6./ Bring forward wing case between lead eyes and secure at hook eye, whip finish cut thread. 7/. Split tail feathers evenly into three strands, apply head cement and let dry for a while.( the type of cement that can be removed when dry by rubbing and moving the feathers so it falls off like dust) 8/ When the cement is still damp plait the three clumps of marabou until the tail is almost the required length ( 30mm), at this point you need to secure and tie off the plait behind the last plait so it does not unravel. I just used hackle pliers to hold the plaits in place while I did simple double knots a few times to secure with a piece of the thread. 9/ hold tail at last plait… splay the unplaited end of the tail to form a V shape then cut loose fibre leaving a wedged shaped end on the tail. Try to pull one strand so the tail curves up from the body at a slight upwards angle to help with swimming action. 10/. wait until the tail is dry then rub gently between fingers to remove the glue.. it sort of just crumble and turns to dust. 11/. Apply nail varnish to whip finish, wing case and on the thread where you secure the end of the tail.. With a dubbing needle or similar rough up the thorax and pull out marabou fibre to give the impression of legs. Tying Diagram
Fly Notes
Fishing Notes This fly is well weighted at the head , with a free tail this gives a great wriggle or swim when retrieved in short sharp twitches, just like the natural. This does mean that in shallow water the must retrieve continuously of with only short pauses to avoid being snagged. The fly's weight can be reduced using bead chain for eyes on even mono, however you still need some weight at the head to get the desired action on retrieval. Target species is Trout.
Location Notes Typical location to fish this fly is along drop offs and around weed beds in lakes, great to cast into fast moving water in streams and rivers. Best fished where you think the naturals have been making their way to shore to become winged adults.
Prey Notes The idea is for a close representation of shape and swimming style of a damsel fly nymph.
Tier Grant Marshall

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