Bodkin / Patterns

Polish Pheasant Tail

Nymph · Trout · Grayling · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook curved or standard nymph hook, 12-16
  • Thread Brown 8/0

Materials

  • Tungsten bead Copper bead (1, sized to hook)
  • Lead-free wire underbody Natural lead wire (8-10 turns)
  • Pheasant tail fibers Natural (ringneck) (5-6 for tail and abdomen)
  • Wire rib Copper wire (1 length)
  • Peacock herl Natural peacock herl (2-3 strands)

How to tie it

  1. Slide a copper tungsten bead to the eye; add 8-10 turns of lead-free wire behind it and jam them into the bead.
  2. Start thread behind the wire and carry a base to the bend.
  3. Catch in the copper wire and a bunch of 5-6 pheasant-tail fibres by their tips, leaving a short tail one-third shank length past the bend.
  4. Wrap the pheasant fibres forward as a slim abdomen to the 65% mark and tie off.
  5. Counter-wrap the copper wire forward in 5-6 open turns to armor the fragile fibres, then break off the tag.
  6. Twist 2-3 strands of peacock herl into a rope and wrap a fat thorax behind the bead.
  7. Whip finish behind the bead and add a drop of cement.

Tying videos

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