Steelhead Pheasant tail

 

 The Steelhead Pheasant tail is similar to a regular Pheasant tail nymph you would use for trout but with slightly different materials. This is a good pattern for fall browns at Oak Orchard. 

Hook:
Thread: brown 6/0
Weight: gold beadhead
Tail: ringneck pheasant tail fibers
Body: ringneck pheasant tail fibers
Rib: med. gold copper wire
Abdomen: Ice Dub or peacock herl
Wingcase: ringneck pheasant tail fibers or flashabou


STEP 1: With a MFC in your vise, attach your thread behind the beadhead and wrap back to the tie in point. Select 10-15 of the longest rusty colored pheasant tail fibers you can find. Tie them in at the tie in point, the length of the fibers should be the length the hook shank (Photo 1A). Pull the pheasant tail fibers backwards and secure with your thread (Photo 1B).

Photo 1A

Photo 1B

STEP 2: Tie in a length of med. gold copper wire and advance your thread 1/2 the way up the hook shank. Wrap the pheasant tail fibers up to your thread and tie off. Trim the excess butts (Photo 2A). Rib the peasant tail body with the copper wire (Photo 2B).

Photo 2A



Photo 2B

STEP 3: Now is the time to tie in your wingcase. You can use pheasant tail fibers or flashabou to give your fly more flash. I'm going to use pheasant for this fly. Select 10-15 fibers and tie them in by the tips.



STEP 4: You can use several materials to make the thorax. I'm going to use olive brown Ice Dub for this fly, but you can use different colored Ice Dub (pink, chartreuse, orange, blue, olive) or peacock herl (Photo 4A). Dub a large ball of dubbing between the wingcase you tied in and the beadhead. If you use peacock herl, tie in 4 herls by the tips and wrap a ball of herl (Photo 4B).


Photo 4A



Photo 4B

STEP 5: With your thorax complete take your wingcase and pull it over your thorax. Trim off any excess butts.

STEP 6: Add some legs to your fly. Select a large brown/gray feather from a hen back and pull off a clump of barbels. Tie one clump of hen back on each side of the fly. Make several thread wraps to secure the feathers and whip finish. Be sure to add a drop of head cement so the legs don't pull out.

Fish the Steelhead Pheasant tail as you would any egg or nymph. Its particulart effective for early run and spring steelhead and for Oak Orchard browns. Tie up several in different sizes and colors. Try different colors of Ice Dub for the thorax.

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Tyler Straight

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