Mysid

This is one of the few real imitations to be found in my boxes. The Mysids (Mysidae) are a group of marine crustaceans, that are especially abundant in the spring. They grow quite large - almost 2 centimeters or 3/4" - and are seen in many colors. my favorite is a light olive one, but I've also fished a dark brown variation with some luck.

1. Start by preparing the eyes
2. Burn a length of heavy monofilament in one end
3. Cut and burn the other end
4. You should end up with a connected pair of eyes the right length. It might take a few tries.
5. When the eyes are good, color them black with a marker or varnish
6. Tie in the thread over the barb and form a dubbing loop
7. Secure the thread, and dub one strand of the loop to a length of double the hook length.
8. Spin the loop with
9. Fold it over behind the hook and let it unwind to form a furled, extended body
10. Tie it down, and cut off rest of loop.
11. Dub the body in a light taper to just after middle of hook
12. Tie in a narrow piece of back material
13. Form an other dubbing loop.
14. Tie in eyes perpendicular to the hook shank
15. Dub the front part of the body, covering the eye stalks with figure-of-eights
16. Make a hair hackle from guard hairs from the fur
17. Spin it
18. Wind it over the thick front part of the body behind the ears.
19. Pull the back material over the body and tie down
20. Form head over the eyes, whip finish and varnish.

This will do fine as a Damsel fly nymph too, actually. A bit longer and maybe another color, and there you are.