Tie this classic 1950s fly that’s still going strong today

Paul shows us why the simple yet successful pheasant tail nymph has a spot in his top five favourite flies

If it’s your first time to tie a fly, this is one of the better ones to begin with. The pheasant tail nymph fly is easy enough that even complete novices have been able to do it with little instruction. And for Paul and many other enthusiasts, an even bigger reason is it can readily provoke strikes when taken out to the water. No surprise that he counts the pheasant tail nymph as another one of his Five Favourite Flies. 

Paul says nymphs can spend up to two years of their lives underwater before emerging to fly. During this time, they crawl along the bottom or drift slowly in the current. The pheasant tail nymph mimics this behaviour perfectly. And when he is out on the water testing his flies, Paul finds this ‘good-ish’ enough semblance very often does the trick. It doesn’t perfectly copy a specific nymph but it’s this ambiguity that makes the pattern so effective.

Anatomy of a fly: so simple yet so smart

Another reason the pheasant tail nymph remains so popular is its minimalist design. Tying one is straightforward, unlike the more complex patterns that involve intricate steps or tricky materials.

At its core, this fly requires just two materials: 10 or so fibres from a pheasant tail feather and a small length of fine copper wire. Despite this simplicity, the pheasant tail nymph offers plenty of room for variation.

Paul’s variant has a thorax fashioned out of peacock herl to give it a sheen. This serves to attract other fish that are more cautious. Herl is a versatile material from peacock feathers whose colour and shine are known to naturally attract fish. He also opts to add a gold bead head for weight and a faster sink rate.

Paul recalls when he and others used to go to country fairs, set up a table demonstration and invite passersby to try their hand at tying flies. ‘We would get people who had never tied one before, and we would just leave them with a bit of instruction to tie the pheasant tail nymph.’ With minimal guidance, most people picked it up after just a try or two.

Easy to tie but has to be fished right

While tying the pheasant tail nymph fly may be easy, Paul’s experience is that fishing it effectively is a bit more difficult. He says, ‘With dry flies that float on top of the water, there’s often the dramatic splash of the strike when a fish takes your fly. With nymphs, you’re relying more on feel, intuition, and subtle movements in the line, unlike with dry flies.’

That’s because this is a subsurface fly to be used underwater.  Although a nymph pattern like the pheasant tail resembles more of a dry fly, it is meant to drift below the water’s surface, simulating a real nymph crawling near the bottom.

With each cast, anglers must rely on senses and observation: a subtle pause in the drift, a twitch of the line, a tiny sideways movement. ‘With this type, it might be bouncing along the bottom, so you’re feeling some of that bounce on your line,’ Paul explained. ‘Then suddenly you feel something different. That’s not the rocks—that’s a live fish!’

In rivers, the standard method is to cast upstream and let the current carry the nymph naturally downstream. On lakes, anglers might retrieve the fly slowly, adjusting the depth by waiting a few seconds after the cast before beginning their retrieve. On the next cast out, they count out a few more additional seconds to go a bit deeper, then retrieve. This way, the fly is presented at different levels with each succeeding cast. Faster retrieves lift the fly higher in the water, slower ones keep it deeper.

These techniques may be challenging at first, but with practice, they soon become second nature. ‘Well, it does take some experience,” Paul admits, “It’s even more difficult with a fly that has very little weight.’

Reliable performance proven in all conditions

Clearly, fish love this fly; it’s as simple as that. Trout in particular spend a lot of time feeding below the surface, so the pheasant tail nymph’s slim profile and natural colour make it an appetising target. Certain adjustments can also help during tough periods—like mid-summer, when high temperatures can slow fish activity.

Unlike dry flies that often correspond to specific hatches or times of year, the pheasant tail can be fished any time. It’s also proven effective year-round, whether used in lakes or rivers. The pheasant tail nymph’s flexibility has given it a success rate that often surpasses more complex designs, making it a constant go-to for everyone.

Discover Paul’s other favourites in our blog series about his Top Five Faves. Interested in tying your own? You can also sign up for a Fly Dressers’ Guild – Wessex taster evening.