Marabou Damsel Nymph

	Tying Instructions	Materials: Hook: TMC 200R #8-12 Thread: Danville Olive 6/0 Weight: Leadfree Wire Abdomen: Olive Marabou Thorax: Olive Marabou Tail: Olive Marabou Rib: Copper wire Wingcase: Olive Marabou
	Notes: Designed by Randall Kaufmann during the early 1980's. Damsel nymphs are usually 1/2 to 1 inch long with a very streamlined body. They swim with a rhythmic wiggle, that ceases when the nymph needs to rest. During the resting cycle, the nymph slowly drifts downward. Randall noticed that most of the established damselfly nymph patterns at the time lacked the animation that he saw necessary to achieve the lifelike movement of the nymph within the water column. By incorporating Marabou for the tail, body, and wingcase, he succeeded in getting the animated movement of the fly. The colors of the marabou are also adaptable to the various colors that damsel nymphs acquire depending upon their environment. Most of these colors are olive, tan, and brown. An added benefit to this fly is that number of materials are kept to a minimum and it is easy to tie. Some variations have been adapted to this pattern for specific locations around the Sierras. Notably, the Convict Damsel Nymph by Moose Patterson of Mammoth Lakes. Guide Tom Loe developed a nice variation with his Drifter's Marabou Damsel Nymph and Emerger using a contrasting dubbed thorax and a sparse marabou abdomen.On the nymph, the marabou is secured to the top of the shank, ribbed with the thread to form a shellback, wingcase, and carapace.On the emerger, the tail and abdomen is secured to the the shank by a fine gold wire ribbing. The wing is a second piece of marabou that is secured over the dubbed thorax with the continuation of the gold wire ribbing. This provides a very durable tie down for the marabou wing. Two other marabou damsels often used within the Sierras are the Damsel in Distress and the No Name Damsel. I don't know who came up with these variations but the No Name is marketed by Umpqua Flies of Oregon.

Variations:
Convict Damsel Nymph	Materials: Hook: TMC 200R #10-16 Thread: Danville Olive 6/0 Weight: Small Black Chain bead Abdomen: Olive Marabou Thorax: Olive Marabou Tail: Olive Marabou Rib: Gold Tinsel Wingcase: Peacock Herl
Drifter's Damsel Nymph	Materials: Hook: TMC 3761 #12-16 Thread: Danville Olive 6/0 Eyes: Black Mono Eyes Abdomen: Olive Marabou Thorax: PMD Superfine Tail: Olive Marabou Rib: Olive Thread Wingcase: Olive Marabou
Drifter's Damsel Emerger	Materials: Hook: TMC 3761 #12-16 Thread: Uni-thread Camel 8/0 Eyes: Black Mono Eyes Abdomen: Olive Brown Marabou Thorax: Caddis Green Haretron Tail: Olive Brown Marabou Rib: Fine Gold Wire Wing: Olive Brown Marabou
Damsel in Distress	Materials: Hook: TMC 3761 #12-16 Thread: Danville Olive 6/0 Eyes: Olive Mono Eyes or Glass beads Abdomen: Dark Olive Simi Seal Dubbing Thorax: Dark Olive Simi Seal Dubbing Tail: Olive Marabou Rib: Clear Vinyl Rib Legs: Olive dyed Partridge Wingcase: Olive Marabou
No Name Damsel	Materials: Hook: TMC 3761 #10-16 Thread: Uni-thread Tan 8/0 Eyes: Black Mono Eyes Abdomen: Olive Marabou Thorax: BWO Superfine Tail: 1/2 Olive Marabou, 1/2 Brown Marabou Rib: Fine Gold Wire Shellback and Wingcase: Brown Marabou

Marabou Damsel Nymph

Variations: