Fly Tying Inventory
Hayden's PT Skwala Nymph
A pheasant tail-based Skwala stonefly nymph designed by Red's Fly Shop guide Hayden Williams. Unlike traditional rubber-legged stonefly nymphs, this pattern uses swept-back pheasant tail fibers for a sleeker, more natural profile. The absence of rubber legs gives it a subtler movement that excels on pressured Yakima River trout during the early spring Skwala hatch. Fished dead-drift or swung, it's a confidence pattern for Pacific Northwest anglers.
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Materials
2X heavy curved nymph hook (TMC 200R), sizes 8-12
Black or copper tungsten bead, 3.5-4.0mm
Black or brown 8/0 (70 denier)
Lead-free wire, .015 diameter, 10-12 wraps
Pheasant tail fibers, 6-8 strands
Pheasant tail fibers wrapped forward over wire rib
Copper wire, small
Peacock herl or dark brown synthetic dubbing
How to Tie the Hayden's PT Skwala Nymph
- 1
Step 1
Slide tungsten bead onto the hook and mount in vise. Start thread behind the bead and wrap lead-free wire on the shank, pushing it into the bead.
The lead-free wire helps the fly sink faster and keeps the bead secure.
- 2
Step 2
Tie in 6-8 pheasant tail fibers for the tail, extending about half the shank length beyond the bend.
Keep the tail short and neat — Skwala nymph tails are stubby in nature.
- 3
Step 3
Tie in copper wire along the far side of the hook shank for the rib.
- 4
Step 4
Wrap the pheasant tail fibers forward to form the abdomen, covering about 2/3 of the shank. Tie off and trim.
Keep wraps tight and even for a smooth, segmented body.
- 5
Step 5
Counter-wrap the copper wire forward over the pheasant tail body for reinforcement. Tie off and helicopter the wire to break it.
- 6
Step 6
Dub a full thorax of peacock herl or dark synthetic dubbing behind the bead, building up a pronounced thorax area.
The bulky thorax creates the stonefly silhouette that triggers strikes.
- 7
Step 7
Pull a few pheasant tail fibers over the top as a wingcase if desired, then whip finish behind the bead.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8vju4fAYZA
Credit: Red's Fly Shop