Pheasant Tail Nymph Pattern

Thread the bed on to the hook and place in the jaws of the vice.

Lay down a thread base and tie in the pheasant tail feather fibres to make a tail

Tie in a short section of copper wire and then take the thread forward to a position about two thirds of the way back towards the eye of the hook.

Wind the pheasant tail feather fibres forward around the hook shank to form the body up to the position of the thread before tying off and trimming the ends. Try to avoid them twisting as you do this. Wind the copper wire forward to rib the fly with four or so segments. Tie off the wire and trim the end.

Tie in the peacock herl and (optional) two strands of tinsel in your preferred color if you want to make the flashback variant. Finish by taking the thread forward to a position hard up against the bead.

Wind the strands of peacock herl forward with sequential wraps trying not crush the previous wrap to maintain bulk for the thorax. Tie down with just one of two wraps of the thread. For the stand PTN, whip fishing now and the fly is complete.

If you are tying the Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymph then bring the two strands of tinsel forward over the thorax and tie down with a couple of wraps before whip finishing the fly and you are done! There you have it – a simple Pheasant Tail Nymph Pattern

Here’s a top view of the tinsel on the top of the flashback version of this pheasant tail nymph pattern.