Bodkin / Patterns

Pink Pheasant Tail

Nymph · Trout · Grayling · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook 1XL curved nymph / scud hook, 14-18
  • Thread Fluorescent pink 8/0

Materials

  • Tungsten bead Copper or pink bead (1, sized to hook)
  • Pheasant tail fibers Natural cock ringneck (4-6 fibers)
  • Copper wire (rib) Copper wire (1 strand, small)
  • Peacock herl (thorax) Natural peacock herl (2 strands)
  • Dubbing (hot-spot collar) Fluorescent pink dubbing (pinch)

How to tie it

  1. Slide the bead to the eye, start the thread behind it and cover the shank to the bend.
  2. Bind 4-6 pheasant tail fibers by the tips so a tail of about half a shank sweeps off the bend.
  3. Catch in the copper wire, then wrap the same pheasant fibers forward to the 60% mark as the abdomen and tie off.
  4. Counter-rib with the wire in 4-5 open turns for durability, then helicopter it to break it off.
  5. Pull the remaining pheasant fibers back and up and pin them as a wingcase stub, tips forward, for now.
  6. Twist peacock herl and thread together and wrap a plump thorax up to the bead.
  7. Fold the pheasant fibers over the thorax to form the wingcase, bind behind the bead and snip.
  8. Spin a thin pinch of hot pink dubbing on the thread and make two turns as a hot-spot collar tight to the bead, then whip finish.

Tying videos

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