FLYMPH FORUM

Crunchy Damsel

• Hook: #14 Daiichi 1720
• Thread: Ginger 10/0
• Hackle: Furnace Hen
• Tail: Ginger marabou
• Rib: Copper wire
• Body: 6-8 Twisted ginger marabou fibres

This riffs on the cruncher and the marabou damsel. It's proved to be a deadly stillwater pattern. I usually tie it on a Mustad 9672, but I thought I'd try it on a hook with a longer point. I apologize for the "fishing quality" finish.

Nice one Aaron. Very yummy

Cheers,
Hans W

Very tidy tying

Thanks for the kind words. As a show fly this leaves a lot to be desired. I haven't yet figured out an acceptable way to transition neatly between the body and hackle. A spot of ginger dubbing would probably do the trick.

Anyway. As a stillwater fishing fly this has been a great and consistent producer. I'm thinking of adapting it for a few stream hatches this coming season. I'll let you know the results.

Aaron

Aaron,

I haven't yet figured out an acceptable way to transition neatly between the body and hackle.

Not sure what you have tried yet, but with the hackle tied in first (and wrapped last), the transition really should end up seamless, no?

Cheers,
Hans W

Not entirely, Hans. I do tie these with the hackle forward, but given the relative thickness of the twisted marabou and the corresponding "thick" tie-off point I'm having trouble getting a nice seamless transition. I've tied this "Stewart style" before, and while it works, it's not ascetically pleasing. Any advise on this would be helpful.

Aaron

Aaron,

I wrap the hackle into and over the tie-down point for body and rib material. Like this quick & dirty copy - full and detail:





How does it look to you?

Cheers,
Hans W

Hans Weilenmann wrote:

How does it look to you?

Nice. Nice marabou too--much better than the junk I can get locally.

What weight thread are you using? With the thinner thread I find the material steps down in a slope and the hackle wraps "slide" forward (for lack of a better term). I'll give it another crack here and post again.

Aaron

Aaron,

My staple thread, Benecchi 12/0, used here too.

Cheers,
Hans W

Hans,

I tied this prior to reading your reply and decided to use silk (chestnut in this case).

Full


Detail


While it's still not prefect (pesky marabou barbules), the results are better. I made a concerted effort to bring the material as far forward as possible (longer marabou would have helped), and to keep the binding wraps to a minimum. I also tied it on the Mustad 9672s which I normally use.

Needs a bit more, but much improved.

Thanks,

Aaron