The Pheasant Tail Nymph

Materials Used:

Hook - standard nymph, sizes 14,16,18,20,22

Thread - brown 6/0 or 8/0

Tails - Pheasant tail fibers

Abdomen - butts of tail fibers

Rib - copper wire

Back - Pheasant tail fibers

Legs - tips of shellback fibers

Thorax - Peacock herl                   

These are steps 1, 2 and 3 in tying the Pheasant Tail nymph.  You are going to use brown thread on this fly.  Starting from the eye of the hook, wrap the brown thread to the rear of the shank.  Then, tie 4 pheasant tail fibers on the fly for the tail.  Make sure the tail is as long as the shank of the hook.  Now, tie on a piece of copper wire about 3 inches long.  Then, you are going to tie on 4 pieces of peacock hurl that will be wrapped forward in the next step.

You are now going to wrap the peacock hurl forward creating the body.  Once that is done, you will tie in 6 pheasant tail fibers about mid-way on the body of the fly.  These pheasant tail fibers are going to create the shell casing and wings in the next step.  After the pheasant tail is tied in, finish wrapping the body with peacock hurl.  Once this is complete, wrap the copper wire forward, leaving gaps between wraps just as you did with the Mickey Finn. 

Me reading the tying instructions for this fly

Can't tie flies without a moxie.

I am finishing the fly in this picture.

The last two steps of this fly are pretty hard.  You are going to take the pheasant tail fibers that were sticking out the back and fold them forward and tie them off at the head.  This will create the shell on the back.  The, take the fibers that are left and fold them back making sure they are divided evenly on each side, which makes the wings.  All you need to do now is tie and whip finish the head.  Add some head cement and you are finished.  Tie yourself up about a dozen of these.  You are going to want them because the brookies and browns love this nymph.