Bodkin / Patterns

Sawyer's Pheasant Tail

Nymph · Trout · Grayling · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook standard nymph hook, 12-18
  • Thread none, fine red-brown copper wire only fine copper wire

Materials

  • Copper wire (fine, red-brown) Copper wire (1 length)
  • Cock pheasant tail fibers Natural pheasant tail fibers (4-5 fibers)

How to tie it

  1. No thread. Catch fine copper wire on near the eye and wind it to the bend and back to build a slim underbody and add a little weight at the thorax.
  2. Tie in 4-5 cock pheasant tail fibers by their tips at the bend with the wire, leaving the fine tips as a short tail about half a shank.
  3. Twist the pheasant fibers and wire loosely together into a rope.
  4. Wind the rope forward to the thorax to build a tapered, segmented abdomen.
  5. Release the fibers, build a thorax hump with the wire, then fold the pheasant tips forward over the thorax and back again to double the wing case.
  6. Bind the wing case with the wire at the eye and twist off the excess wire.
  7. Form a small wire head, tuck the tag, and set it with a drop of varnish.

Tying videos

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