Pheasant tail fibers (body) Natural pheasant tail fibers (Butt ends of the same tail bunch)
Wire rib March brown (Medium, one strand)
Arizona Simi Seal dubbing Olive ice dub (One small pinch)
How to tie it
Slide a 7/64 in brown slotted bead onto a size 12 jig hook with the small hole facing forward, seat it hard against the eye, and mount the hook in the vise.
Start fluorescent red thread just behind the bead and take a few wraps to lock it down.
Pull 3-4 strands of natural pheasant tail from the feather, tie them in behind the bead with the tips pointing rearward, and wrap the thread back to the hook bend, binding the fibers along the shank as you go. Set the tail short, no longer than the shank, with light wraps at the bend.
Do not trim the butt ends; leave them hanging off the back. They become the body.
Tie in a length of medium march brown wire at the bend and leave it off the back for ribbing later.
Clip hackle pliers onto the pheasant tail butts, spin them a couple of turns to twist the fibers into a tougher rope, then wrap forward in touching turns to the bead to form a thin, evenly tapered body. Tie off and trim.
Counter-wrap the march brown wire forward in the opposite direction of the body, 5-6 evenly spaced ribs, and tie it off behind the bead. Break the wire off with a back-and-forth wiggle.
Touch-dub a very small pinch of olive Arizona Simi Seal onto the thread, just enough for two wraps, and wrap it in right behind the bead.
Whip finish five or six turns behind the bead so the red thread shows as a hot spot, and clip the thread.