Bodkin / Patterns

Improved Pheasant Tail

Nymph · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Standard nymph hook, 14-18
  • Thread Brown 70 denier

Materials

  • Tungsten or brass bead Copper bead (1, sized to hook)
  • Pheasant tail fibers (tail, abdomen, wingcase, legs) Natural pheasant tail fibers (2 small bunches)
  • Fine wire (rib) Copper wire (1 length)
  • Pearl flash (flashback) Pearl flashabou (1 strand)
  • Peacock herl (thorax) Natural peacock herl (2-3 herls)

How to tie it

  1. Slide the copper bead to the eye, start the thread and wrap to the bend.
  2. Tie in the fine copper wire and a bunch of 4-6 pheasant tail fibers with the tips pointing back as a tail, about half a shank long.
  3. Wrap the pheasant fibers forward to the 60% mark to form the abdomen and tie off.
  4. Counter-wrap the copper rib forward in 5 open turns and helicopter off the tag.
  5. Tie in a fresh bunch of pheasant fibers pointing forward for the wingcase, a strand of pearl flash on top, and 2-3 peacock herls.
  6. Wrap the peacock herl into a plump thorax up to behind the bead and tie off.
  7. Pull the pheasant wingcase over the thorax, then pull the pearl flash over the top of it for the flashback, and bind both down behind the bead.
  8. Divide the wingcase fiber tips to each side as legs, whip finish and cement.

Tying videos

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