Bodkin / Patterns

Prince Pheasant Tail-Beadhead

Nymph · Trout · Grayling · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook 2XL nymph hook, 12-16
  • Thread Brown 8/0

Materials

  • Bead Gold bead (1, sized to hook)
  • Pheasant tail fibers Natural pheasant tail fibers (6-8 fibers)
  • Wire rib Copper wire (1 length, fine)
  • Peacock herl (thorax) Natural peacock herl (2-3 strands)
  • Goose biots (wing) White goose biots (2)

How to tie it

  1. Seat the gold bead at the eye and start the thread behind it.
  2. Tie in a small bunch of pheasant tail fibers at the 75% mark so the tips splay slightly past the bend as a tail.
  3. Bind in a fine copper wire, then wrap the pheasant tail fibers forward as a slim abdomen to the 65% mark; tie off but save the wire.
  4. Counter-rib the copper wire forward over the abdomen in 4-5 turns, tie off, snip.
  5. Wrap 2-3 peacock herls to build a peacock thorax up to just behind the bead; tie off.
  6. Lay two white goose biots flat over the thorax as a Prince-style V-wing reaching the abdomen midpoint; bind at the bead and trim.
  7. Whip finish behind the bead, cement.

Tying videos

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