Polish Pheasant Tail Varation

Not much more needs to be said about Pheasant Tail, other than it's one of the most used fibers for making nymphs. There are three fibers I can't do without: Pheasant Tail, Peacock Tail and Hungary Partridge.

This is a variation on Davie McPhail's "Polish Pheasant Tail Nymph"

What's nice about this pattern is it's simple, and it has all the elements of a great nymph.  The profile is tied in the round.  It presents the same profile when the nymph is tumbling downstream.  The pheasant tail fibers offer the iridescent brown/olive color found in most naturals.  It also has two triggers, the two hot spots and a gold bead.

This is a K.I.S.S. pattern you want in your box for euro or standard nymphing.

Hook – Mustad S80-3906

Size – 10-16

Thread –  GLO-BRITE Fluorescent Floss – Shade #5 Hot Orange

Bead – Gold Tungsten Bead

Tail – Pheasant Tail Fibers

Body – Pheasant Tail Fibers

Rib – .32 gauge Copper Parawire

Thorax – Jan Siman Synthetic Peacock Dubbing – Peacock Eye

Hot Spot –  GLO-BRITE Fluorescent Floss – Shade #5 Hot Orange

Tie in your Glo-Brite.

Tie in Pheasant Tail.

Tie in wire.

Wind Pheasant Tail fibers forward counter clock wise.

Counter wrap wire forward in open wraps and tie off.

Dub thorax and tie in hot spot.

Whip finish.

Fly and Fin - CDC Prince

 This is my variation on a classic prince nymph pattern.  I use red wire and substitute rust CDC for the traditional hen.  The CDC add a lot of motion to the fly and it's one of my most productive early season patterns. Tie some with or with out the bead and let me know how it works for you.

Pearl Tag Caddis

Here is a pattern from the Holiday tying session it's another variation on a Caddis larva. I tied it on the Mustad's Demon Circle Hook (here in a size 12), but you can use the grub hook of your choice. I purchased the Jan Siman’s Peacock Bronze dubbing and Fly D&K Quill Body from Kevin Compton.  I didn't see it on his web site www.performanceflies.com but I'm sure if you email him through the his sight he'll hook-you-up (yes pun intended).

Pearl Tag Caddis

Size – 8 - 12 Mustad Demon Circle Hook 1X Fine Wire (Ref# 39951BLN)
Thread – 8/0 Dark Brown
Head – Gold Tungsten Bead 2.3mm
Thorax – Jan Siman’s Peacock Bronze
Body – Hairline Dark Hare's Ear
Rib – Fly D&K Quill Body
Tag –Pearl Flashabou

Brown Trout falls victim to the Tan VU Caddis Jig

I'm still playing with he W90, this is a short clip of a Brown fell victim to Tan VU Caddis Jig.  I need to figure out how to both fish and camera at the same time.  It's hard to film when you can't see to subject.

CDC Purple and Orange

The Partridge and Orange and Purple Snipe are tradition wet fly staples.  While playing at the vice I'd put both together with a twist.  I like using CDC for a many soft hackle flies.  The main reason is the barbules catch little air bubbles, which makes the fly sparkle.  Not unlike emerging caddis gas bubble.  I believe trout key in on the halo.

 

Hook – TMC 2457 or any nymph hook

Size – 12-16

Thread – 8/0  Rust

Body – .32 gauge Purple and Orange wire
Thorex – Tan UV Ice Dub
Hackle – Dun CDC Fibers

  

 

 1. Mash down barb and tie in thread.

 2. Tie in purple and orange wire.

 3. Advance purple and orange wire together and tie off.

 4. Tie in CDC feather.

 5. Dub Thorax with Tan UV Ice Dub.

6.  Wind on CDC.

 

 6. Pull CDC fiber back, form a head and whip finish.

Cooper Bug

The Cooper Bug may be tied in many other colors, including one particularly popular variation tied with light deer body hair pulled over a red dubbed body (Devil Bug).

Hook – TMC 2302*
Size: – 8 – 14
Thread – Black
Body – Peacock Herl
Rib – Red Wire
Tail/Shellback – Coastal Deer Hair

*Traditionally tied with a dry fly hook.

Tan UV Caddis

This is a variation of Jig Head Hares Ear Caddis. I'm calling it a Tan UV Caddis. Will see how it will do this spring.



Hook – Jig Head
Size – 1/125 – 1/80
Weight –.22 lead
Thread –8/0 Orange
Body – Ice Dub UV Tan
Hot Spot – Hot Orange
Rib – .32 gauge Brown Parawire or any wireLegs – Rust Dun CDC fibers

1. Mash down barb and secure in wire.

2. Wrap in lead.

3. Secure lead.

4. Apply Dubbing to thread and wind forward.

5. Dub in Hot Spot.

6. Wind wire forward to create a ribbing.

7. Tie in rust CDC

8. Wind on CDC, secure and whip finish.

Ice Pheasant Tail Jig

This is my version of a pattern I learned form Johan Klingberg at the International Fly Tying Symposium back in November 2009 on Czech Nymphs.

Johan Video is has great DVD and is the best primmer on the history of Eastern European Nymphing.

I highly recommend his DVD:

Czech Nymph DVD: Modern Fly Fishing vol. 1
Instructor, narrator, producer etc.: Johan Klingberg/Jussi Sjölund

This is a great anchor fly.

Hook – Jig Head
Size – 1/125 – 1/80
Thread –6/0 Camel or Brown
Body – Pheasant Tail
Thorax – Olive Ice Dub
Rib – .32 gauge Red Parawire or any Red wire
Tail – Dun CDC fibers

1. Mash down barb and secure thread.

2. Secure CDC fibers to the bend.

3. Secure wire.

4. Tie in Pheasant tail fibers.

5. Wind Pheasant tail fibers forward and secure.

6. Wind wire forward and secure.

7. Dub in Olive Ice Dub.

8. Wind Olive Ice Dub forward and whip finish.

Rock Worm

There are Rhyacophila larvae in every freestone stream.  It is an abundant food source for trout.  So abundant while nymphing I've impaled larvae, not once but many times.  This is a simple an effective pattern.  You can add a shell back but I've not notice the difference in hook-ups.  You've may notice that I don't have the partridge hackle sweeping back, this is to give the legs more action.

It is a dead simple pattern and very effective.  Bob Jacklin's version landed him a 10 lbs. Brown Trout on the Madison between the lakes.

 

Hook – TMC 2457 or any heavy Grub hook

Size – 12-18

Thread – 8/0 or 6/0 Black

Body – Hairline Insect Green #13 Dubbing or Chartreuse dubbing
Rib – .32 gauge Green Parawire or any green wire
Head – Black Brass or Tungsten bead
Legs – Hungarian Partridge

  

 

 1. Mash down barb and secure in wire.

 

 2. Apply Dubbing to thread.

 3. Wind dubbing forward.

  

 4. Wind wire forward to create a ribbing.

  

 5. Tie in Partridge.

  

 6. Wind on Partridge, secure and whip finish.

Rag Bug

The Rag Bug is my version of Frank Sawyer's Killer Bug. This is a excellent crane fly larvae imitation.

The original Killer Bug is tied with Chadwick 477 (good luck find any). There are some substitute's, Chadwicks 477 Substitute from (http://www.lathkill.com/shop/index.php?productID=1658) and 477 Killer Bug Yarn from (http://www.fishingmegastore.com/view.php?module=products&productID=2530).

Like me you may have a rag wool sweater that no longer fits. The color is simular to other crane fly larvae imitation most notably Walt's Worm tied with Hareline Hares Ear Plus #1. Both Walt's Worm and the Killer Bug are deadly patterns and dead simple to tie.

A simple image search of a crane fly larvae will show you how well this pattern imitates the natural.

Thread – .32 gauge Brown Parawire

Hook – TMC 2302 or any Nymph hook

Size 8-16

Body – Rag Wool

 1. Mash down barb and secure in vice.

 

2. Wind wire onto hook.  I use a dab of super glue to secure.

3. Secure Rag Wool and wind back.

4. Wind wire forward several wraps away from the hook eye.

 5. Wind Rag Wool forward and secure with 1-2 wraps.

 

6. Trim away the excess.

7. Whip finish with 2 - 3 turns, and break off the wire.