Pheasant Tail Nymph

Materials

How to Tie the Pheasant Tail Nymph

1. 1

   Step 1

   Slide a copper or gold tungsten bead onto the hook and secure in the vise. Start thread behind the bead.

2. 2

   Step 2

   Wrap thread back to the bend. Select 4-6 pheasant tail fibers and tie them in as a tail, about half a shank length.

3. 3

   Step 3

   Tie in a piece of small copper wire at the base of the tail for the rib.

4. 4

   Step 4

   Take 4-6 more pheasant tail fibers and tie them in by the tips at the tail. Wrap them forward to form the body, covering about 2/3 of the shank.

   Wrap the pheasant tail fibers tightly and slightly overlap each turn for a smooth, segmented body.

5. 5

   Step 5

   Tie off the pheasant tail body fibers and counter-wrap the copper wire rib forward through the body. Tie off behind the bead.

6. 6

   Step 6

   Select 4-6 pheasant tail fibers and tie them in by the tips over the thorax area, pointing forward over the bead. These will become the wing case.

7. 7

   Step 7

   Tie in 2-3 strands of peacock herl behind the bead and wrap them to form a full thorax.

8. 8

   Step 8

   Pull the pheasant tail wing case fibers back over the thorax and tie them down behind the bead.

9. 9

   Step 9

   Optionally, divide the remaining wing case fiber tips into two bunches for legs, one on each side.

10. 10

    Step 10

    Build a small thread head behind the bead, whip finish, and apply a drop of head cement.