Fly Tying Tutorial: KILLER Balanced Damsel -- Updated Version

One of my favorite patterns for damsels.
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[@bevanflyfishnz665]

Awesome tie guys. After your last version, I simplified it and basically came up with the same style of fly. I tied with a black bead and olive semi seal/ mixed with olive Hare's ice dub on a FM5045 hook. Nailed some nice big still water fish down here in the NZ. Will def give that colour a try- it just juices me up!

[@bakerward510]

this has been a killer fly for me! a trip saver on many occasions. one thing I've been messing around with is using rabbit hair with the guard hairs still in instead of the marabou. it looks about the same when wet but is a lot more durable I've found.

[@flatswhisperer]

Great looking fly and video. Really appreciate the thought and effort you guys put in to your videos and then sharing them with us. We learn so much. Thanks!

[@barbaraemerich1921]

Love this fly!! Going to be tying up this one for sure!!

[@HUsnagzHU]

This just looks like success. I mean, even I wanna eat it! Superb.

[@jeffbrooks8288]

Hi Curtis! That’s a great looking Damsel fly. You’re a tremendous innovator!!! One thought that might be worth considering: when I did all the research for the original Spectrumized Golden-Olive Damsel, the biggest breakthrough came as I held some damsel nymphs in the palm of my hand just under the surface of the water on Scofield and saw the tiny reflection of purple in the bugs. I raced home and added a small amount of Lite-Bright in “purple haze” to my dubbing mix. The results thereafter were legendary with multiple 100 fish days. I’m wondering if you added a little bit of purple to your dubbing mix if you’d see the same results? A small amount of purple in the dubbing together with the rust colored thread I use to imitate the internal organs of the bug made all the difference for me. I’m going to tie your balanced fly pattern with my dubbing mix. It should be a great combo! Your website and KZbin channel rocks! It’s fantastic what you and Cheech have accomplished. You couldn’t have picked a better man than Lance to run the show! Well done!!! If you decide to test a few of your flies with some purple material added to the mix, please reply and let me know your results. I’m always interested in learning. Many thanks!

[@barbaraemerich1921]

I’m going to add the purple for sure!

[@jamesdowns4889]

I just got back from a trip where I tried this fly with some of the purple Light-Brite added and it was a killer as the name implies.

[@stryker2764]

That is a beauty damsel! I'll be sure to add a few to my fly box! Thanks for your video! :))

[@dw8773]

I got on a "balanced" leech kick this past winter. Tied several of them in various sizes. I kept ending up with the tail hanging slightly low - bead not extended enough, I thought. Anyway, one day I decided to actually hang them in water to see how they would really fish. Every single "balanced" leech - most with the tail hanging lower, mind you, did a direct nose dive to the bottom of the water bowl I was using. Some were so bad that the only way I could ever imagine even fishing them was on a very fast retrieve, hardly leech like. There were two that were perfect in the water, both were tied before I decided to "improve" them by balancing them. All were tied with the same jig hooks and tungsten beads. Have you guys ever tried hanging them in water and not just air?

[@FlyFishFood]

Hanging them in water is definitely a good way to make sure they they will hang correctly.

[@dw8773]

Well, my simple mind has been eased. This video reminded me of the confusing results I got in water as opposed to air. I tested again this morning and realized - I think - what is happening. Trapped air. If I squeegee the leeches through my fingers when underwater, tiny air bubbles come out and then they behave as expected. The two that were unbalanced and hanged perfectly, now will hang slightly nose up. All is again well in the world. @@FlyFishFood

[@greggdelong]

YOU MIGHT WANT TO TRY THE SEQUIN PINS FOR CONSISTENCY OF LENGTH AND THE ELIMINATION OF THREAD CUTTING SHEARED ENDS .

[@huntergilbert3262]

I wonder if you could fish this under a dry fly for like high and back country lakes?

[@tedvoise7964]

what's the point of "balancing" ? does it really make a dif in catch rate? seems like overthinking it...

[@FlyFishFood]

For Stillwater indicator rigs. Your leech rests horizontally instead of vertically.

[@mountaincreekfliesjimmy8386]

Awesome video lesson thank you sir

[@davidchase4072]

Very interesting, but don't you think if you just tied this in a normal bead head style it would be equally effective and simpler?

[@FlyFishFood]

David Chase the key with a balanced flybis that it stays horizontal in the water with a vertical leader and a slow retrieve.

[@josepharvizzigno4641]

You dont do a counter rib? Last Leech I tied with a dubbing loop, the thread broke after 8-9 fish. I suggest counter ribbing with Mono

[@FlyFishFood]

If you use the right thread it's super durable. Also, don't take the flies out of the fish with hemostats.

[@josepharvizzigno4641]

@@FlyFishFood What Do U recommend I was using 6/O Uni...Should I use 210

[@abefrohman1759]

Very cool.

[@aaronwest1527]

What size hook?

[@wcdunn]

What kind of vise to do you use in this video?

[@FlyFishFood]

Craig Dunn it’s a Renzetti Master vise