The Pheasant Tail Nymph is another of my favorite all-purpose general nymphs. It too can be tied in a variety of colors such as brown, olive, and black. Just like the Hare’s Ear, it is a general nymph that can imitate a variety of underwater insects, but I think that the Pheasant Tail is a great imitation of the mayfly insect. Mayflies are another important source of food for fish and are found on rivers and lakes everywhere. Just like Caddis, Mayflies spend most of their life living underwater and are called nymphs. Once the mayfly nymph grows full size, it floats to the water’s surface and hatches into an adult mayfly and flies away. The Pheasant Tail imitates a mayfly nymph that is floating to the surface.
Hook: Wet 2x long
Tail: Pheasant Tail fibers
Rear Body: Pheasant Tail fibers
Front Body: Peacock Herl
Wingcase: Turkey or Pheasant tail
Rib: Copper wire
Thread: Black 6/0
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Step 1
Place the hook in the vise and start the thread, winding towards the bend of the hook.
Step 2
Tie in a clump of pheasant tail fibers. The fibers should extend behind the hook approx. the same length as the gape of the hook.
Step 3
Tie in a length of copper wire.
Step 4
Wrap the remaining pheasant tail fibers around the hook shank towards the eye of the hook until they are too short to be wrapped any more. Tie down the fibers and trim the ends.
Step 5
Wrap the copper wire around the pheasant tail body towards the eye of the hook, but stop wrapping when there are no more pheasant tail fibers. This will strengthen and protect the body.
Step 6
Tie in another clump of pheasant tail fibers with the feather tips pointing towards the rear of the hook.
Step 7
Tie in 2-3 stands of peacock herl right in front of the pheasant tail fibers and then wind the thread just behind the hook eye.
Step 8
Wrap the peacock herl to build up the forward body. Tie down the peacock herl and trim the ends once the body is thick enough.
Step 9
Wind the copper wire around the peacock herl towards the hook eye in order to protect it just as the copper wire was wrapped around the pheasant tail fibers. Once the copper wire reaches the hook eye, tie down the copper wire and trim.
Step 10
Pull the remaining pheasant tail fibers over top of the peacock herl to form the wingcase and tie down with thread. Trim the pheasant tail fibers just behind the hook eye.
Step 11
Whip finish or half hitch the thread to tie it down and place a drop of head cement on the thread to secure the wraps.