Bodkin / Patterns

Metallic Pheasant Tail

Nymph · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook 1XL nymph hook, 14-18
  • Thread Brown 8/0

Materials

  • Copper tungsten bead Copper bead (1, sized to hook)
  • Ringneck pheasant tail fibers Natural pheasant tail fibers (5-6)
  • Ultra wire Copper wire (1 length for rib)
  • Pearl mylar / Flashabou Pearl flashabou (1 strand for flashback)
  • Peacock herl Natural peacock herl (2 strands for thorax)

How to tie it

  1. Bead on, hook mounted, thread run from behind the bead to the barb.
  2. Tie in 5-6 pheasant tail fibers by the tips for a tail one-half shank long. Bind in the copper wire rib.
  3. Wrap the pheasant fibers forward as a rope to the 60% mark to form the abdomen, then rib forward with the copper wire in 4-5 open turns and tie off.
  4. Tie in a pearl mylar strand for the flashback and leave the pheasant butts pointing forward for the wingcase.
  5. Wrap peacock herl to build a thorax up to the bead.
  6. Pull the pheasant butts over the thorax as a wingcase, then pull the pearl flashback over the top of that; bind both at the bead. Whip finish and cement.

Tying videos

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