Pheasant Tail by Charlie Craven

The Pheasant Tail is the quintessential mayfly nymph pattern. The dark brown color and slender profile create a highly realistic mayfly imitation. Although it can be tied in larger sizes, I prefer this fly in sizes 16 through 24 because smaller sized Pheasant Tails match blue wing olive and pale morning dun nymphs. For bigger mayflies, I lean toward the Hare’s Ear as it lends itself better to large sizes.
I have perhaps tied as many Pheasant Tails in my life as I have any other pattern and have streamlined the process over the years. I like to keep this fly slender. Most books show the Pheasant Tail using three or four separate bunches of fibers to form the tail, body, wingcase, and legs. This creates too much bulk on the hook and makes a simple fly more complicated than it needs to be. I use the same four fibers of pheasant tail for all of these parts. My method of tying the Pheasant Tail makes the pattern simple to tie and more slender, to more closely match the natural.
Proper selection of both the pheasant tail fibers and the peacock herl used in this pattern is critical.
Not all pheasant tail feathers are created equal. Some have very bushy fibers, like oversized hackle, that create too much bulk on the hook. Some have thin, short fibers that work beautifully for small flies. The feathers that these fibers come from tend to look ratty and ugly, not full and bushy like the pretty feathers you’d like to put in a hat. The ratty ones are the feathers you want to select for your Pheasant Tails. I didn’t say broken, chewed or bent, just thin, as though they came from a bird that didn’t do too well last winter.
As for the peacock, I use only the herls that extend directly out from the very tip of the eyed quill. These herls are smaller and finer than the stuff that is below the eye and look nice on a small fly while keeping the thorax in proportion to the rest of the fly.
I pull only one fiber of pheasant tailback along each side of the thorax to imitate legs. Most tiers pull back two per side but, again, it’s too much bulk on a slender fly.
Don’t forget the color options for this pattern. While natural pheasant tail fibers make a beautiful fly, black, olive and red are effective too.
The Pheasant Tail can be fished in a variety of ways. I fish it as a nymph on the stream bottom with a split shot on the leader.

Materials Needed:

Hook: TMC 100SP-BL #14-20, TMC 100 #22 and smaller
Thread: 8/0 Rusty Brown down to an eighteen, 10/0 rusty Brown for 20 and smaller
Tail: Ringneck Pheasant Tail Fibers
Rib: Fine Copper Wire
Abdomen: Ringneck Pheasant Tail Fibers
Wingcase/Legs: Ringneck Pheasant Tail Fibers
Thorax: Peacock Herl from the eyed quill

[edsauer]

A masterful tie. There's no mistaking your skill level. Thanks for a great video.

[MaxMeridius]

I learned to tie from your book Basic fly tying, probably 15 yrs ago.. to now have the technology to see and here you is such an amazing treat!! Thanks for keeping it fun and interesting! You are a great asset to the hobby!

[seizedcarcass]

I must say this is a seriously a high end tie for a simple nymph. I’m most certainly using this one! I struggle to make legs on the pheasant tails but I’ve discovered my bodkin has a dimple in the handle that works great to hold the legs back.

[poudrehound]

Nice video Charlie! I owe you a great debt of gratitude for teaching me how to tie flies. I have your books and always watch your videos. Keep cranking them out! Cheers.

[RadDad]

Brilliant! Been tying pheasant tails for a long time, but never like this! The way you simplify is incredible. Love your content.

[kurzhaarguy]

Your flies have perfect dimensions. Really nice work.

[lenlynskey]

This pattern is exactly the one I use here in New Zealand. My district is in a drought situation so the rivers are low (but clear and cold) and the trout in my local river are concentrated far more than normal. They are between 3 and 5lb and taking size 14 PTs quite freely. Charlie your videos are outstanding and your skills wonderful to watch and listen to.

[TGging]

Charlie, you make it look so easy! Thanks for another great fly.

[martinhodell]

very nicely done. great proportions and nice demonstration of thread control. thanks!

[brooktroutangler]

Nice to see you cranking out the video's

[flyrodhiker]

Great job sir, thanks for sharing this!

[sanchez]

First Comment I have tied hundreds of these Charlie since I learned them in your class.

[lorenzovillalobos]

Thank you so much! You are an inspiration for sure!

[patcobra]

Trés bon montage, tres bonnes idées et merci pour la traduction en fr.
thanks

[davidthomas]

This video showed me a lot about proportion. My tails have been too long and my thorax too short. Looks like my PTs have too many legs as well. Back to the bench!

[kurzhaarguy]

Yeah, really an elegant little bug. It’s used as a beginner tie, yet, experts make it look sexy. And, nobody goes on the water without a few. If you cross the pass toward the Blackfoot drain, post something.

[PieterSnyders]

Awesome so glad you have an channel, subscribe

[michaelo]

What a wonderful fly tying technique! I wonder what is your opinion on counter wrapping the wire in the opposite direction against the pheasant tail fibers, as it seems to be a popular technique with many fly tyers, but not in your demonstration.

[eugenewalk]

Charlie, technical question. Why do you use a dry fly hook on your Pet's? Started tying flies at 68, now 76, and your the one to blame! Take care.

[rileymurphy]

May i ask, why do you use only one pheasant tail strand for the legs since I’ve seen flies that use pheasant tail tips for the legs or side implanted legs also using the tips but this is the only one that uses one strand