Pheasant Tail Bead Head Soft Hackle Nymph

The Pheasant Tail Nymph created and designed by Frank Sawyer is quite possibly one of the most effective and widely used flies.  It is highly effective because it imitates a wide range of insects.  One in particular is Mayfly nymphs, and these insects are some of the most diverse, and abundant insects in any water system.  We prefer to tie all of our nymph patterns as weighted soft hackles using slotted tungsten beads on jig hooks.  We have found that doing this can streamline our tying, and increases our catch rate.  We have found them to be vastly more effective on the dead drift, swing, and twitch giving the fly more lifelike characteristics and movement triggering the fish to feed.  With the variety of colors Pheasant Tails come in we can change them making them even more successful. Some of our favorites are Olive, Purple, and Black.  This fly is extremely effective tied in sizes from 8-18.

Materials List:

Thread: Semperfli Classic Waxed Pale Olive 12/0

Hook: Moonlit Barbless Competition Jig Hook ML058 Sz 12

Bead: Moonlit Slotted Tungsten Pale Olive/Apple 3.5mm

Body/Tail: Olive Dyed Pheasant Tail

Rib: Semperfli Hot Green .2mm Tying Wire

Thorax: Vicuna Dubbing Golden Olive

Hackle: Whiting Dark Olive Dyed Grizzly Hen Saddle