Hook:

Thread:

Body:

Wing case:

Tail:

Fish whenever you see a lot of little blue damsels flitting around. The real critter swims in open water, a few inches to a few feet below the surface. It swims by wagging its tail. - MK

1. Wrap a thread base and tie in eyes 1/8" to 1/4" back from hook eye, wrap thread back to bend of the hook.

2. Tie in a bunch of olive maribou with 1 to 1½ hook length left extending from bend of the hook for tail.

3. Wrap a few thread wraps around the base of just the tail bunch.

4. Holding the tail bunch in your other hand, wrap loose thread wraps up the bunch to about 1/2" from the end of the tail.

5. Wrap 3 or 4 turns and then loose wrap as before back down to the bend.

6. Make 3 or 4 wraps around base and hook to secure the tail.

7. Dub maribou barbules onto the thread, don't worry, a smooth body is not the goal. It should be filled in but let some loose ends hang out.

8. Dub to ½ shank point and tie in wingcase material. If using pheasant tail, try to use a long enough piece to leave some legs with what is left over.

9. Dub a full thorax of the same maribou, figure-eighting around the eyes.

10. Pull the wingcase over and tie down just behind eyes.

11. Legs are optional, but belong at this point.

12. Whip finish and apply head cement.

"Tying Tip"

To make eyes, take a 1" piece of stout mono held in the center with metal hackle pliers or hemostat and carefully melt the ends into balls. Using a wooden match makes the eyes dark. If using a lighter, use a black permanent mark er to make the eyes dark. - Mike Kelly