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Pheasant Tail Nymph Step-by-Step:
Accident and observation often go a long way towards innovation. Such was the case when British Angler, Frank Sawyer, conceived the ever popular Pheasant Tail (PT) Nymph in the 1950s. The ubiquitous Baetis mimic came about after Sawyer made a curious observation while fishing a Pheasant Tail Red Spinner dry fly pattern. That observation… the fly continued to catch fish even after it had been submerged.
Utilizing a minimalistic approach based on his belief that “General shape and coloration…is of greater importance than an exact copy…,” Sawyer’s original Pheasant Tail Nymph consisted of nothing more than the titular Pheasant Tail and copper wire. The latter serving as both ribbing and weight.
Quick sinking and displaying a narrow tapered profile, the fly proved to be a hit in the UK and quickly found its way across the Atlantic. It was there that Al Troth, of Elk Hair Caddis fame, designed the first of many notable variants to Sawyer’s original. It is this variant (or rather a close approximation) we’ll be tying in the Step-by-Step below.
| Materials: | ||
|---|---|---|
 Nymph Hook (#10-#20; 1x-2x Long) |  12/0 (Olive or Brown) |  Brass or Tungsten (sized to hook) |
 Pheasant Tail (3 fibers) |  Pheasant Tail (2-4 fibers) |  Peacock Herl (2-3 fibers) |
 Pheasant Tail (6-8 fibers) |  Pheasant Tail (fiber tips) |  Lead-free Wrap |
Step-by-Step Tying Instructions:
(Click images to enlarge)
Step 1: Add beadhead to hook. Wrap thread and trim. 
Step 2: Build thread base extending length of shank. Tie small bunch of PT fiber tips to create tail. 
Step 3: Tie in wire. Followed by 3-4 PT fibers tied in tip first. 
Step 4: Create abdomen by wrapping PT fibers forward, covering 2/3 of shank. Secure with thread & trim excess. 
Step 5: Counterwrap wire over abdomen. Then tie in 6-8 PT fibers with tips extending above bead head. 
Step 6: Tie in 2-3 Peacock Herl Fibers at front of abdomen. Wrap thread forward. Trim excess. 
Step 7: Wrap Herl forward creating thorax. Secure with thread. Trim excess. 
Step 8: Part PT tips creating evenly divided legs on each side of thorax. Then pull fibers forward to create wing case. 
Step 9: Secure PT wingcase with thread. Trim excess. And whip finish. 
Step 10: Add UV resin to Wingcase to finish pattern.
Alternative Tie:
Sawyer’s Original
While the PT nymph described above is a relatively simple pattern, Frank Sawyer’s original creation was even more so. Requiring no thread, the original PT consisted of only pheasant tail and copper wire.
Creating a tapered base of copper wire, PT fibers are secured at the rear of the hook shank with tips extending to create the tail. The fibers are wound forward over the tapered wire body to immediately behind the eye. Copper wire is counterwrapped the length of the shank, securing the PT fibers, and then wrapped back to the base of the thorax. The remaining length of PT fiber is then pulled back and secured with wire creating the wing case.
Tight Lines Everyone!
-Chris