This is the way I tie the Pheasant Tail Nymph. It?s not pretty, but it is very quick and easy to tie, it?s surprisingly durable and very effective. As I said it?s not a pretty fly, few in my box are. This is tied to catch fish, not anglers.
Instructions assume right-handed tyers
HOOK ? Wet Fly #14
THREAD/RIB/WIEGHT ? Fine Copper Wire
TAIL/BODY/THORAX/THORAX COVER ? Cock Pheasant Centre Tail.
Mount the hook in the vice and apply a spot of super glue with a needle.
(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g8/scotfly/pt.jpg)
Attach the wire in exactly the same way you would attach thread, twist the tag off
(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g8/scotfly/pt1.jpg)
Take four fibres from the tail keeping the tips even. Do not tear the fibres off, for this fly cut them off.
(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g8/scotfly/pt2.jpg)
Tie in at the point shown and take the wire down to the tail.
(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g8/scotfly/pt3.jpg)
Take hold of the butts and pull the over to the tail and tie down with one wrap of wire.
(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g8/scotfly/pt4.jpg)
Twist the body fibres round the wire between your finger and thumb. This is the why I said cut the fibres off the tail, if you tear them off you are left with little curly bits which have to be cut off anyway.
(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g8/scotfly/pt5.jpg)
Wrap the twisted body all the way up to the point shown.
(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g8/scotfly/pt6.jpg)
Then separate the wire from the body fibres, without letting go.
(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g8/scotfly/pt7.jpg)
Tie down with one turn of wire.
(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g8/scotfly/pt8.jpg)
Then take one open turn of the wire back to the point shown.
(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g8/scotfly/pt9.jpg)
Fold the thorax cover over and secure with one turn of wire.
(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g8/scotfly/pt10.jpg)
Then take another open turn of wire back to the head.
(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g8/scotfly/pt11.jpg)
Pull the thorax cover back over to the head and tie down with two turns of wire.
(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g8/scotfly/pt12.jpg)
Trim the butts and make another two or three turns of wire to form the head.
(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g8/scotfly/pt13.jpg)
Break or twist the wire off and apply a spot of superglue to the head.
(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g8/scotfly/pt15.jpg)
When I tie this I always tie two or three dozen at a time. I put a spot of superglue onto a bit of plastic and dip the needle into it to apply it to the fly. Normally I will get about a dozen tied before the glue starts to go off.
After applying the superglue at the head I push a piece of copper wire through the eye and leave the flies on it to dry.
(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g8/scotfly/pt16.jpg)
(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g8/scotfly/pt17.jpg)
That?s it, much quicker to tie than explain, not pretty, but very effective.
Superb Dennis. This simple fly is one I have never been able to tie and end up with a decent result. Always too bulky. Just tried this method - perfect!
Thanks
Now that you have perfected that method Fred.... Try this one. :)
http://www.danica.com/flytier/hweilenmann/sawyer_pt.htm
Next time I'm tying some PTN's I will be doing a few this way. Looks good, but then everything Hans does looks good, a true lord of the flies!