Pheasant Tail Nymph

What it imitates

An olive or mayfly nymph — the all-round river nymph.

When to fish it

Any river, any month. Fish it on the point under a dry or on a nymph rig.

Materials

• Cock pheasant tail fibres
• Fine copper wire
• Peacock herl
• Brown 8/0 thread
• Optional 2.5mm bead

Steps

1. 1

   Tie in four or five pheasant tail fibre tips as a short tail at the bend.

2. 2

   Catch in the copper wire, then wind the fibre butts forward as the body.

3. 3

   Rib the copper wire forward in open turns and tie it off at the thorax.

4. 4

   Wind two strands of peacock herl for the thorax.

5. 5

   Fold the remaining pheasant fibres over as a wing case, tie down and whip finish.