Kaufmann Damsel

[11th Warrior]

Johnk and I were bantering in the nymph swap topic and the Kaufmann Damsel was brought up. Well I tied up a few and I'm looking for opinions:

IMG_0012..JPG

Hook is a Mustad signature streamer hook (4xl)
Olive Uni 6/0 thread
Marabou tail
Body is ostrich feather twisted into a rope (counter-wound with fine copper wire)
Eyes are medium beadchain, black

The original called for a marabou body but after tying one I decided the ostrich feather was both easier and provided a more streamlined body, like the real thing.

[johnk]

Johnk and I were bantering in the nymph swap topic and the Kaufmann Damsel was brought up. Well I tied up a few and I'm looking for opinions:

Attachment 1440

Hook is a Mustad signature streamer hook (4xl)
Olive Uni 6/0 thread
Marabou tail
Body is ostrich feather twisted into a rope (counter-wound with fine copper wire)
Eyes are medium beadchain, black

The original called for a marabou body but after tying one I decided the ostrich feather was both easier and provided a more streamlined body, like the real thing.

Looks like a nice simple tie. Nice and thin like the naturals. In all honesty it's probably a bit long in overall length for my liking but that's an easy fix.

[11th Warrior]

I believe it's about 2" total in length. That was the only streamer hook I had handy because I was tying some wooly buggers as well. I picked up some size 10 2xl hooks today.

[johnk]

Most of mine are on #12 (2xl) and sometimes I think I'm a little on the small side. In the spring I've had some great April days at Six Mile with a size 16 (2xl) to imitate the juveniles around the weedbeds.

[11th Warrior]

...with a size 16 (2xl) to imitate the juveniles around the weedbeds.

ya, I'm not tying that small.

[johnk]

ya, I'm not tying that small.

Don't blame ya a bit!

[Maverick]

nice tie man!

[11th Warrior]

Thanks. Bone easy to tie. 2 minutes/fly, tops. I'll have 1/2 a box full for the summer because I love nymph fishing.

[johnk]

[professori]

That should really give that wrigling/swimming motion a damsel has. The longer body on most damsel patterns usually is more static than a real damsel. I'll be stealing this pattern for a few of mine this spring.