Sawyer's Pheasant Tail Nymph with Lou DiGena

 

I think everyone knows the Pheasant Tail Nymph, but I'm not sure how many know Sawyer's Pheasant tail nymph. The pattern is dead simple, and like most patterns I tie, it follows the K.I.S.S. rule. 

For those who don't know the pattern, it's a killer. Frank Sawyers designed it to "Baetis" nymph, or "olives." I've found it's also a good imitation of the "Ephemerella" nymphs, including the Hendricksons and Sulphurs nymphs. For the "Baetis," tie the nymph in sizes 16 - 20, and for the "Ephemerella," tie it in 14 - 16. If you have a long Pheasant tail, then a size 12 is possible.

  

Materials: Hook: 

Hook: Mustad S80-3906 (https://amzn.to/2K9RWO8)
Thread: X-Small Brown Copper Wire (https://amzn.to/37NvJ09)
Body: Center Tail from a Cock Pheasant (https://amzn.to/2KOzD15)

Fly Tying Gear:

   Regal Stainless Steel Revolution and Base (https://amzn.to/3gxmQvL)

   Regal Vise Tool Bar Attachment (https://amzn.to/2IxpKEe)

   Cohen's Sculpting Scissors

   Matarelli Whip Finisher (https://amzn.to/370HxNu)

Camera Gear:

   Camera: Panasonic GH4 (https://amzn.to/2ItiCsu)

   Lens: Panasonic 30mm Macro (https://amzn.to/3n0ZZe)

   Ring Light: Neewer 48 Macro LED (https://amzn.to/2VUSfii)

   Fill Light (3): Aputure H198 (https://amzn.to/39V2D1S)

   Battery: Wasabi Power Battery and charger. (https://amzn.to/2VRyo3s)

   Backdrop: Dark Grey & Light Grey (https://amzn.to/33UzUX3)

 

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© 2020 Louis DiGena All Rights Reserved.

Sawyers Pheasant Tail Nymph

I think everyone knows the Pheasant Tail Nymph, but I'm not sure how many know Sawyers Pheasant tail nymph.  The pattern is dead simple.  And. like most patterns I tie, it follows the K.I.S.S. rule.

For those who don't know the pattern, it's a killer.  It was designed by Frank Sawyers to "Baetis" nymph, or  "olives."  I've found it's also a good imitation of the "Ephemerella" nymphs, which include the Hendricksons and Sulphurs nymphs.  For the "Baetis," tie the nymph in sizes 18 - 20, and for the "Ephemerella," tie in 14 - 16.  If you have long Pheasant tail, than a size 12 is possible.

Back in January 2010, I posted step-by-step tying instructions Sawyers Pheasant Tail Nymph - Tied with Parawire.

Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions filmed me tying the Sawyers Pheasant tail nymph at the Annual Sparse Grey Matter Fly Tying Festival on February 26th, 2012.

Sawyer Pheasant Tail Nymph from Tightline Productions on Vimeo.

I recommend you check out Tim's other videos at Vimeo. 

Sawyer's Pheasant Tail Nymph - Strikes again

Frank Sawyer's Pheasant Tail Nymph is simply brilliant!

It imitates so many mayfly of nymphs it a great searching pattern, but when a hatch is on and the fish aren't rising tie one on that matches the size of the natural.  You'll be glad you did.

This Big Boy took a size 14 Sawyer's Pheasant Tail Nymph

Note the Pheasant Tail Nymph

 Close-up

The Release.

Banner Day!

Work and my son's Little League season has limited my time at the vice and on the stream.  However I got out the other day and had a banner 3 hours on the stream.  The stream level was perfect and there was a hatch of Blue Wing Olives and Sulfurs (on the early side this year).  No fish were working the surface but they did hammer the Sawyer's Pheasant Tail (size 14) and my Tan UV Caddis Jig nymph.

I wished I could have stayed for the evening spinner fall.

 

 This Brown took Tan UV Caddis Jig

 

 This Bow took Sawyer's Pheasant Tail

 

 This hen was phat...

Time to go home

 This Brown took Sawyer's Pheasant Tail

 

 Cheese!

 

 

 This little Rainbow took Ice Pheasant Tail

 

Another Brown on Sawyer's Pheasant Tail

 

 Last fish, time to go home...

Sawyers Pheasant Tail Nymph - Tied with Parawire

Thread – .32 gauge Brown Parawire
Hook – TMC 2302 or any Nymph hook
Size 12-18
Body – Pheasant Tail Fibers

1. Mash down barb and secure in vice.

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

This helps me to keep my wraps tight.

3. Secure pheasant tail fiber with 1-2 wraps.

4. Wrap fibers around the wire (creating a rope),
then wind forward.

5. Build a thorax with the wire, and tie in
additional fiber then wrap forward.

6. Pull fibers over for wing case (Forward).

7. Bring wire back with one turn and
pull fibers back over the wing case.

8. Whip finish 2- 3 turns, clip excess fibers, and your done.

Frank Sawyer Tying a Pheasant Tail Nymph and a Dry Fly

This footage of the creator of the Pheasant Tail Nymph has been up on YouTube for a year. With many great patterns less is more.

I don't know any one who doesn't have a American Pheasant Tails in their fly box.  I love patterns with peacock, but the original is worth tying.

For more information and videos on Frank Sawyer I recommend going to http://sawyernymphs.googlepages.com/videos