Burk’s Damsel Nymph

Burk’s Damsel Nymph

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Tying Instructions

1. Prepare the abdomen by securing the end of the vernille piece to a pin attached to the vise. This will provide a solid platform to attach the marabou tail.

2. Attach the marabou to the vernille at the end with one loop of thread. Adjust the length of the tail by pulling on the base of the marabou until you get the desired length. Then secure with tight wraps.

3. Whip Finish and trim off the base of the marabou. Remove the vernille piece from the needle and apply a drop of Super Glue to the threaded wraps to secure the marabou.

4. Attach a lead wire and wrap 4-5 turns for weight. Secure the lead wire with thread wraps and an application of Super Glue.

5. Attach the vernille abdomen to the hook shank behind the lead wraps. Adjust for proper length, Tail and abdomen should be about 1 1/2 times the hook length.

6. Attach a piece of Turkey tail to the top of the shank. The tie down should extend to the same point you anchored the vernille abdomen.

7. Dub a thorax to just behind the eye.

8. Attach a set of small mono eyes just behind the eye with figure eight thread wraps.

9. Use some velcro and tease out the fibers on the thorax dubbing.

10. Bring the Turkey Tail over the dubbed Thorax and secure behind the eyes. Then bring the turkey over the eyes and secure once more in front of the eyes.

11. Trim the turkey fibers and Whip Finish behind the eye.

Materials to Order Material, click the link
Hook	TMC 9300 #10-12
Thread	Danville Olive 6/0
Eyes	Small Mono eyes
Body	Olive Ultra Chenille
Tail	Olive Marabou
Thorax	Mottled Nymph Blend, Golden Stone
Wingcase	Dark Turkey Tail

Andy Burk

Burk’s Damsel Nymph

Designed by Andy Burk. Andy is a Sierran guide with a number of excellent nymph patterns. This one is a favorite. It is simple and effective. Make sure you use Vernille or Ultra Chenille for the abdomen as regular Chenille will loose its fuzz quickly. Micro sizes are now available to enable you to tie this pattern in smaller hook sizes.

Sierra Damsel

Andy made another variation to this pattern in 2004, which he called his “Sierra Damsel”. He ties the Sierra Damsel in both Olive and Ginger. The wingcase is a pair of Turkey Biots which are anchored at the base of the thorax with the tips extending halfway along the abdomen. The thorax is Antron Sparkle Dubbing with a pair of Krystal Flash pieces added for legs.

This results in a sleeker appearance and gives some attractor flash to the body with the Antron and Krystal legs. The biots are pulled over the back for a wingcase and anchored beneath the mono eyes. The biots are then drawn over the eyes axis to resemble a thoracic segment and trimmed. Using Turkey Biots gives the wingcase much more durability. Note also that Andy is utilizing a larger wide gap nymph hook. This will result in better hook-ups following a quick hook set strike.

Habitat and Hatch

Damsel nymphs is an important fly choice within the Sierra, especially in June and July. The nymphs are predator’s that reside within the weedbeds of lakes . They feed upon other insects and crustaceans. When they are ready to emerge, the nymphs need to migrate to the nearest shoreline or crawl onto anything the emerges from the water. Usually this migration will occur in the morning and late afternoon hours and the trout will key upon them. They have a undulating method of movement, so retrievals should be slow or non-existent but always give the fly some movement. Work the edges of the weed beds.

Burk’s Damsel Nymph, Tan

Hook	TMC 9300 #14-16
Thread	Danville Tan 6/0
Eyes	Small Mono eyes
Body	Tan Micro Ultra Chenille
Tail	Crawdad Orange Marabou
Thorax	Gray Olive Simi Seal Dubbing
Wingcase	Dark Turkey Tail

Burk’s Sierra Damsel Nymph, Olive

Hook	TMC 2499SP-BL #12
Thread	Danville Olive 6/0
Eyes	Small Olive Mono eyes
Body	Olive Micro Ultra Chenille
Tail	Olive Marabou
Thorax	Medium Olive Antron Dubbing
Wingcase	Olive Turkey Biot
Legs	Olive Krystal Flash