Bodkin / Patterns

Mercury Sh Pheasant Tail

Nymph · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook standard nymph/wet, 14-18
  • Thread brown 8/0

Materials

  • Silver-lined glass 'mercury' bead Clear/silver-lined (1)
  • Pheasant tail fibers Natural pheasant tail fibers (tail and abdomen)
  • Fine wire Copper wire (rib)
  • Peacock herl Natural peacock herl (thorax)
  • Hungarian partridge Natural partridge (1 (soft hackle))

How to tie it

  1. Slide a mercury bead to the eye and start thread behind it.
  2. Tie in 3-4 pheasant tail fibers as a short tail and catch in fine copper wire.
  3. Wrap the pheasant tail forward to the 60% mark for the abdomen; counter-rib with 4-5 turns of copper wire and tie off.
  4. Wrap a short peacock herl thorax toward the bead, leaving room for the hackle.
  5. Tie in a Hungarian partridge feather by the tip and wind 1-2 turns as a soft, swept-back collar behind the bead.
  6. Whip finish behind the bead and add a drop of cement.

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