PHEASANT TAIL (variant)

I have seen many different flys tied along the theme of the original " Sawyers pheasant tail" nymph, typically tied with pheasant tail fibres and copper wire. This one is my variation for which I have added a thorax of peacock hearl and a wing case of fire flash for added flash & attraction. I like to use this pattern in faster waters on rainbow and brown trout such as are found in many of New Zealand s rivers.

Hook:   Size 10-16
Thread: Brown Unithread 6/0
Tail:   Pheasant tail fibres
Rib:    Copper wire
Body:   Pheasant tail (as for tail)
Thorax: Peacock hearl
Wing Case: Brown fire flash
Legs:   Brown partridge

Instructions

Wrap thread along full length of hook, I like to use a heavy gauge hook such as Kamasan B200.
Tie tail in at 45 degree angle with a loose turn and then wrap a few tight turns which flares the tail fibres into the correct position (do not cut off butts of pheasant tail fibres as these will be used for the body).
Tie in copper wire rib and built up the body to the desired shape with thread before winding the butts of the pheasant tail fibres to form the body.
The copper wire rib is then wrapped on. Rather than being tied off, the copper wire is used to form the shape of the thorax, which is secured with several wraps of thread and head cement if desired.
A bunch of brown fire flash is tied in for the wing case and the thorax covered with two or three strands of peacock hearl twisted with thread prior to wrapping.
The wing case is then bought forward and finished off.
A few strands from the side of a soft speckled brown partridge hackle are tied in either side of the head to form legs and the head is finished off.

Good luck!

Brent Evans (bevans@dcc.govt.nz)
Dunedin - New Zealand