Tying the Irresistable Pheasant Tail Nymph Fly

This mayfly attractor nymph is a guide fly for the ages.

August 21, 2013 By Charlie Craven

Pheasant Tail Nymph Recipe

Hook: TMC 100SP-Bl #14-20
Thread: 8/0 Rusty Brown
Rib: Fine Copper Wire
Tail, abdomen, wingcase, legs: Natural Pheasant Tail Fibers
Thorax: Peacock Herl

Tying The Pheasant Tail

Tying The Pheasant Tail

Tying The Pheasant Tail Step 1 of 12

Tying The Pheasant Tail Step 1 of 12

Start the thread at the 70 % point and tie in a piece of fine copper wire. Wrap back over the wire to the bend of the hook.

Tying The Pheasant Tail Step 2 of 12

Tying The Pheasant Tail Step 2 of 12

Even the tips of four pheasant tail fibers and tie them in with one wrap of thread at the bend of the hook. The tails should be about 2/3rds of a shank length long.

Tying The Pheasant Tail Step 3 of 12

Tying The Pheasant Tail Step 3 of 12

Lift the butt ends of the pheasant tail fibers up and out of the way while you wrap the thread forward to the 70% point, forming a tapered underbody.

Tying The Pheasant Tail Step 4 of 12

Tying The Pheasant Tail Step 4 of 12

Wrap the pheasant tail fibers forward to the starting point and tie them off on the top of the hook.

Tying The Pheasant Tail Step 5 of 12

Tying The Pheasant Tail Step 5 of 12

Spiral wrap the wire forward over the abdomen to the starting point, Tie off and clip the wire.

Tying The Pheasant Tail Step 6 of 12

Tying The Pheasant Tail Step 6 of 12

Fold the butt ends of the pheasant tail fibers back over the front of the abdomen and tie them down so they overlap back to the sixty percent point.

Tying The Pheasant Tail Step 7 of 12

Tying The Pheasant Tail Step 7 of 12

Tie in a small bunch of peacock herl behind the eye and wrap back over it to the base of the wingcase.

Tying The Pheasant Tail Step 8 of 12

Tying The Pheasant Tail Step 8 of 12

Wrap the peacock forward to just behind the eye. Tie off and trim the herl.

Tying The Pheasant Tail Step 9 of 12

Tying The Pheasant Tail Step 9 of 12

Fold the pheasant tail fibers forward over the peacock thorax and tie them down behind the eye.

Tying The Pheasant Tail Step 10 of 12

Tying The Pheasant Tail Step 10 of 12

Pull one strand of pheasant tail back on the each side of the hook and bind them in place with two turns of thread.

Tying The Pheasant Tail Step 11 of 12

Tying The Pheasant Tail Step 11 of 12

Break off the remaining two strands of pheasant tail, build a smooth head over the butt end and whip finish the thread.

Tying The Pheasant Tail Step 12 of 12

Tying The Pheasant Tail Step 12 of 12

Clip the legs so they are just a touch longer than the wingcase.

Finished Pheasant Tail

Finished Pheasant Tail

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