Flashback Pheasant-Tail Nymph Flashback Pheasant-Tail Nymph HOOK: #8-18 heavy nymph (Mustad R72 shown). THREAD: Black 70-denier Ultra Thread. TAIL: Pheasant tail fibers. RIB: Copper Brassie Ultra Wire. ABDOMEN: Peacock herl. WINGCASE: Pheasant tail fibers. LEGS: Pheasant tail fibers. Note: Smaller Pheasant Tail Nymphs (#16-20) can be tied using just one slip of 4 to 6 pheasant tail fibers continuously for the tail, abdomen, and wingcase. For larger flies, add a new section of pheasant tail for each part of the fly.

Frank Sawyer, riverkeeper on Englands' Wiltshire Avon, designed an elegantly simple nymph that sinks quickly and imitates various Baetis mayfly species. Sawyer's nymph had only two ingredients: pheasant tail fibers and copper wire. The wire was used as an underbody, to attach the pheasant tail fibers to the hook, and also as a rib over the abdomen.

Sawyer's simple design was (and still is) a deadly pattern on any trout stream, but most Pheasant-tail Nymphs tied or bought in the U.S. in the last 20 years use thread and included a peacock herl abdomen. The fly can be tied as small as #18-24 to imitate Trico and Baetis nymphs or as large as #10-12 to imitate stoneflies, mayflies and cased caddis. Omit the tail and a #20-24 Pheasant Tail is a fantastic midge pupa imitation.

Ringneck pheasant tails are sold in many dyed colors so you can tailor flies to specific hatches on your local water. To get the fly deep, add a gold, brass, or copper-colored metallic bead to the head of the fly. Another variation is a green glass bead or synthetic dubbing instead of peacock herl in the thorax.

CLICK HERE for a detailed video on how to tie a Beadhead Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymph.

Tying Steps

Step 1. Attach the thread to the hook and position the thread above the hook barb. Separate and align the tips of a section of pheasant tail fibers and cut or tear the fibers away from the stem. Use a pinch wrap to secure a tail the same length as the hook gap directly above the hook barb. Hold the pheasant in place with just two or three wraps of thread and then lift the pheasant tail fibers out of the way and secure the wire for the rib immediately behind this tie-in point. Wrap the thread forward over the wire in smooth touching turns to the 60-percent mark.

Step 2. Wrap the pheasant tail fibers forward in closed wraps to the 60-percent mark. Secure and trim the excess material.

Step 3. Wrap the copper wire forward in the opposite direction of the pheasant tail. This is called a counterwrap and makes the fly more durable. Tie off the wire at the 60 percent mark.

Step 4. Tie in a short section of wide Pearlescent Flat Tinsel over the thorax area and then tie in another segment of pheasant tail over the thorax area. Last, tie in two to three strands (for #14-16 hooks) of peacock herl and position the thread a hook-eye length behind the hook eye.

Step 5. Wrap the peacock herl forward in close touching turns to just behind the hook eye and tie it off. Pull the pheasant tail fibers forward over the thorax and secure with two wraps of thread.

Step 6. Pull the Mylar Tinsel forward over the hook eye and secure it with 2-3 wraps of thread. Clip the excess material as close to your wraps as possible. Split the remaining pheasant tail fibers in half and stroke the group closest to you toward the rear of the hook. Make one wrap of thread to hold the fibers in this rearward position. Position the fibers on the other side of the hook shank the same way with just one wrap of thread and whip-finish the fly. Trim the pheasant fibers to about the same length as the thorax of the fly to imitate legs.

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