Pheasant TailsPheasant Tail nymphs remain one of the most popular and widely used nymphs. There is no fly that is a "fly for all seasons" as we have to match the hatch which varies all year, however as most sub-surface food lives close to the bottom the weighted Pheasant Tail is probably the closest you can get to a fly for all seasons The standard pattern developed by English River Keeper Frank Sawyer, uses the butt ends of the Pheasant to build a wing case (Sawyer Original Pheasant Tail). A useful variation is this fly tied as a gold bead head (Bead Head (BH) Pheasant Tail). The main theme in all of his patterns is simplicity. The pheasant tail nymph is designed to sink fast when presented up stream to a subsurface feeding trout. It works effectively in the moving water of streams and the still water of lakes. It is one of the five most popular trout flies used. Pheasant tails are available with green sport, orange spots and many different varieties spawned from the original Sawyer Original Pheasant Tail. |