Balanced Damsel 2.0

Materials

How to Tie the Balanced Damsel 2.0

1. 1

   Step 1

   Slide the bead onto a straight pin and clamp the pin in the vise with its head pointing forward. This makes the stem for the weighted head.

2. 2

   Step 2

   Push the bead back toward the vise and start the thread just behind the pin head. Melt both ends of a short piece of mono into small balls for the eyes.

3. 3

   Step 3

   Tie the mono across the pin behind the head with crossing wraps so one eye sits on each side.

4. 4

   Step 4

   Whip finish and cut the thread. Slide the bead forward against the eyes, restart the thread behind it, and build enough wraps to hold it there. Whip finish again and add a small drop of thin glue.

5. 5

   Step 5

   Mount the jig hook in the vise and start the thread on the shank. Lay the pin along the top of the shank so the bead and eyes sit ahead of the hook eye, then bind it down firmly.

6. 6

   Step 6

   Wrap thread back along the shank to the bend, keeping the pin locked in place.

7. 7

   Step 7

   Tie in a few strands of rootbeer Midge Flash at the bend so they trail past the hook.

8. 8

   Step 8

   Tie in a bunch of olive marabou over the flash for the tail. Bind the butts along the shank, trim any excess, and trim the flash to the length of the marabou.

9. 9

   Step 9

   Tie in the opal tinsel and wrap a smooth underbody over the shank, finishing just behind the bead. Secure it and trim the excess.

10. 10

    Step 10

    Blend the Ice Dub and both Simi Seal colors into one loose mix.

11. 11

    Step 11

    Return the thread to the base of the tail and form a dubbing loop. Spread the mix in the loop and spin it tight into a rope.

12. 12

    Step 12

    Wind the rope forward over the tinsel to just behind the bead, letting the opal show through the fibers. Tie off and trim.

13. 13

    Step 13

    Whip finish behind the bead, then brush out the body so the long fibers stand out around the tinsel.