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Pheasant Tail

Author: Rafe Nielsen

This relatively easily tied nymph imitates a variety of insects.

Pheasant Tail Nymph No fly-fisherman should be without several Pheasant tails in their fly box. One of the most effective and universal flies, the pheasant tail imitates most caddis and mayfly nymphs, as well as additional insect life. The Pheasant tail can be tied with a variety of modifications which makes it as versatile as the waters you fish. A popular modification is to add a small gold or tungsten bead head at the beginning and then tie as normal. The bead head offers a bit more weight and creates a small jigging motion as it moves through the water. Gold or copper wire can be added for ribbing and a variety of neutral colors of dubbing can replace the peacock herl thorax. I like to tie in brown soft hackle instead of a wingcase and fish it as an emerger or wet fly. When all else has failed the pheasant tail has always produced fish for me on the Henry's Fork and Yellowstone's Blue Ribbon waters.






Tying Difficulty (5 being the hardest 1 being the easiest): 3

Recipe
Hook: #12-#20
Thread: Brown, tan or black
Tail: Pheasant tail fibers
Body: Wrapped pheasant tail fibers
Thorax: Peacock herl
Wingcase: Pheasant tail fibers
Legs: Pheasant tail fibers

Steps
  1. Begin by taking four or five pheasant tail fibers and tie them in for a tail about half as long as the hook.
  2. Tie in five to ten (depending on size of hook) additional pheasant tail fibers and wrap collectively forward about 2/3 down the hook. Tie down but don't trim.
  3. Advance the thread forward and make a couple of wraps back against the fibers, laying them back toward the bend of the hook.
  4. Next, tie in and wrap three to five peacock herls to form a thorax. Tie off and trim.
  5. Take the tied back pheasant tail fibers and pull them forward over the thorax to form the wingcase. Tie down at the eye, but don't trim.
  6. Divide the pheasant tail fibers into two groups and tie them back, similar to step 3, one on each side of the thorax, forming the legs
  7. Trim the legs at about the beginning of the thorax.
  8. Whip finish.





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