Introduction

 The Pheasant tail Nymph is one of the better nymphs that can be used in the Smokies. There are many versions of it and this one is a little different , with another set  of legs. Hopefully this pattern will give you a little bit of practice to learn to wind the fibers in as well as making the legs. The next few weeks are some of the better times of the year to fish this fly. You can make a beadhead pattern of this fly by simply adding the bead when you start to tie the fly.

 Recipe

Hook: Mustad: 9670 or 9672 Streamer hook-#12-18 
Thread: UniThread 6/0 or 8/0 Brown
Tail: 4-6 pheasant tail fibers
Abdomen: 6-8 pheasant  tail fibers  
Thorax: 3 peacock herl strands
Wingcase:  6 pheasant tail fibers
Legs:  Ends of the pheasant tail fibers used for the body

Step 1

Step 1

 Place hook in the vise and wrap 10-15 wraps of .015 non toxic wire.

Step 2

Step 2

Tie in thread and wind back over the wire and stop at the hookbend.

Step 3

Step 3

 Tie in 4-6 pheasant tail fibers at a 45 degree angle. Begin tightening thread wraps and allow the thread torque to wind fibers onto the top of the hook. Holding slightly to the fibers as you wind will give you practice and soon you will be doing this  in a confident way.  Now tie in gold wire.

Step 4

Step 4

.Now tie in 6-8 pheasant tail fibers at the hookbend by the butt ends. This method is backwards to what many tutorial instructions will give. Try it this way and see if you like the looks of the legs better. 

Step 5

Step 5

 You may twist the fibers or hold them in alignment as you wind forward with them. Keep a moderate amount of tension on the fibers as you work them forward. The fibers will begin to get short about 1/2 way up the body of the fly. Try to make them wind to about where the thorax will begin and  bring them under the body. Try to make there be just about enough length to leave for legs. This may take a few times to get just right.  Now wind gold wire forward to secure the abdomen.

Step 6

Step 6

Look at the position of the legs and the thread in the picture above. The thread is at the area where the back of the thorax and wingcase will be.

Step 7

Step 7

The next step is to bring back the legs leaving 4 barbs -two on each side and tie them into place being turned back.  Now tie in 6-8 more Pheasant tail fibers at the back of the wingcase area by the butt ends.  Now tie in 3 peacock herl right against the pheasant tail fibers. Look closely at the picture to see how they are all positioned.

Step 8

Step 8

Note in this picture how the peacock herl is tied in.

Stage 9

Step 9

Wind peacock herl forward as a rope or simply wrapped forward to just behind the hookeye. Leave just a little space.

Step 10

Step 10

Bring wingcase fibers forward across the top of the thorax and tie 2-3 wraps to hold wingcase in place.  Turn fly over and push fibers back forming a new set of legs or trim off the fibers where it was tied down behind he hook eye. The alternate method is to tie in the ends of the pheasant tail fibers, beard style as shown, and trim just behind the thread. 

Step 11

Step 11

Now, finish tying off the head and cement. 

Step 12

Step 12

You now have one of the hottest nymphs to be fished in the Park. Good fishing to you!---Hugh