How to tie the Black Damsel Mini Lure

Hook - Hanak H230 BL #10
Thread - Veevus E04 8/0 (Red)
Tail - Comp Candy (Black Jack Marabou)
Rib - Thin Blue Holographic (Durham Ranger Fly Tying)
Body - Troutline Pure Squirrel Dubbing (Black)
Hackle - Dyed blue Partridge Feather.
This is a really old fly from my days competing with the Soldier Palmers. I recall it working particularly well at Rutland Water. The inspiration for this fly came from Ronnie Christie's Damsel fly and there is a link to this in the video and at the end. The colour is IMHO only a small part of the flies success over the years.
What really scores is the profile when wet and the movement generated by the marabou tail and front hackle. Like most things in fly tying this fly as well as Ronnie's Damsel has fallen out of favour with me and I can't recall the last time I fished one, maybe next season it will have a revival.
Are there any flies you used to fish with a lot and are now going rusty in the corner of your fly box? Let me know in the comments below.
Royalty Free Music www.bensound.com/

[@danlim3763]

Great tie ... thanks for sharing. I do have a question, in your experience regarding long marabou tails, is the thread bump at the base of the fly better than putting a few wraps behind the tail? I hope that made sense. Thanks again.

[@lindsayiflyfish]

IMHO yes I have tried both but prefer the bump.

[@littlesilver2205]

I been using a piece of monofilament on my buggers with that rib you put in and counter wrap over it, great looking blue bugger.

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Yep, works a treat.

[@tacoma1309]

randy cabe
Hard to find blue died hackles, but, i agree very much about the red and the black combo. There is something there that turns them on, and you can fish the fly with confidence.
I will try your fly if we can ever get out there on the lake! Thank you.

[@lindsayiflyfish]

I hope you get the opportunity 👍

[@duderoony]

Lovely little pattern there Lindsay. I’ll give it a go. Thank you for another one dude.

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Most welcome pal.

[@Check-Your-Fly]

I loved the tie! I just purchased the hooks you're using. Love damsels and dragon nymphs! Great pattern .I fish damsels in Michigan still waters and slack eddies on the rivers. Cheers !

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Glad you like them, would love to know how you get on with it.

[@RockyPhillips]

Lovely, great tip on the bumb in the back for the marabou

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Glad it was helpful, Thanks for watching buddy!

[@brianr9529]

Been fly fishing for 2 years, just got my 1st vice, I'll be getting the materials for this and having a go for my first fly thankyou. Looks a fish catcher.

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Thanks Brian, it's a great fly to start with and fairly simple to tie.

[@brianr9529]

@@lindsayiflyfish your welcome, probably take me allday to tie one but I'll tie it lol also I'll attempt more of yours in time. Enjoy your fishing ones too.

[@lindsayiflyfish]

@@brianr9529 Just practice pal you will get there.

[@brianr9529]

@@lindsayiflyfish thankyou

[@kevinjtoner]

Very nice, Lindsay.......Thank you!!! 👍🐟👍

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Thanks for watching!

[@davidfraser4083]

Thanks Lindsay another great tutorial. I'll tie some tomorrow for an outing next week. Regards Big Davie.

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Thanks for watching Davie, tight lines.

[@Pete.108]

Awesome Lindsay like it a lot.

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Cheers Peter.

[@jimflynn466]

Hi Lindsay, I think I mentioned before, dyed guinea fowl feathers would do at a push, I managed to get some grizzle dyed Cambridge blue and they really look good in any damsels, wooly buggers and humongous I’ve tied, thanks for a really nice pattern I’ll give it a go. Regards Jimf

[@lindsayiflyfish]

I think I have some guinea fowl dyed blue tucked away somewhere, need to dig it out.

[@duncanbayne745]

Excellent tie Lindsay. I think it would also work with fire orange thread. I like using partridge hackle on small lures. Duncan

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Partridge is a great material.

[@fliesbychris]

Nice wee lure Lindsay!! I like using the smaller sized lures, I'll be giving that one a go later, I'm trying out some ideas with my ant patterns atm. I'm looking for some muddler patterns (hint hint).
Keep em coming mate!!
ATB Chris.

[@lindsayiflyfish]

I will keep that in mind pal ;-)

[@randall6002]

looks good mate ill be trying a few of these..

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Cheers buddy and tight lines.

[@leemowers9395]

Nice pattern

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Thanks pal.

[@ColinGFSmith]

would you fish that on an Intermediate or floater or does it matter ??

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Either or works well for this Colin.

[@brianr9529]

Can anyone tell me where to get compcandy marabou? Thanks in advance

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Here you go pal compcandytroutflies.com/fly-tying/marabou-uv-lunar-white

[@brianr9529]

@@lindsayiflyfish thanks very much