Tail Pheasant tail fibres (6, from the same bunch as the body)
Body Pheasant tail fibres (the same 6 fibres wound forward)
Rib and thorax Medium copper wire (one length)
Wing case The remaining pheasant tail fibre tips (6)
Legs The wing case fibres folded back (split each side)
How to tie it
Mount a size 14 barbed nymph hook and lay a base of black 8/0 thread, working back with the tag end held under to keep the base neat, stopping just before the bend.
Tie in the medium copper wire along the whole length of the shank on the side nearest you, then take the thread up and back over it to the bend.
Chop off about six long pheasant tail fibres. The whole fly is tied from this one bunch, so pick long ones.
Measure the tail to about a half to a third of the hook length, pinch it, take a wrap up and a pinch wrap down so the fibres are trapped on top of the hook right at the back, then one more wind and come forward.
Come back right underneath the pheasant tail before you start winding so the first wrap covers the thread, then wind the fibres forward to about two-thirds up the shank.
Pinch wrap the pheasant tail down there and bring the remaining fibre tips up out of the way. They become the wing case.
Counter-wind the copper wire forward over the body, three or four turns, up to the tie-off point, and trap the reserved tailing fibres under the wire as you go.
Use the same copper wire to build the thorax: wind forward leaving a little space behind the eye, then back, then forward again. This adds weight and gives the fly a shiny hot spot. Do not build it too big.
Tie the wire off, work the thread front and back over the tie-in, and helicopter the wire off.
Bring the pheasant tail wing case over the thorax, split the fibres a little, and tie them down with a pinch wrap, using your thumbnail to divide them into equal numbers each side.
Fold the divided fibres back along the sides as legs and tie them down.
Whip finish, and add superglue or resin over the wraps if you have it. Trim the legs to about the same length as the abdomen.