[ScottP]

In honor of all those gobblers who (literally) put their heads on the chopping block this holiday season. A Pheasant Tail nymph in every other sense; bead or weighted wire optional.

hook - Tiemco 200R #12
thread - Uni 8/0 camel
tail/abdomen - turkey tail fibers
rib - copper wire small
thorax -peacock herl
wingcase/legs - turkey tail fibers


mash barb and attach thread





tie in wire on underside of hook





wrap wire back to point above hook barb; by keeping the wire on the far side, thread wraps automatically align the wire neatly on the underside of the hook (a big help if you're tying skinny-bodied flies where any unsightly bumps/lumps are magnified)





measure some turkey tail fibers (hook gap distance) and tie in





wrap turkey butts up to 60% mark, tie off and trim





wrap wire forward, tie down, helicopter to break and smooth over tag end





tie in 8-10 turkey tail fibers with tips extending over hook eye about 1/2 shank length; tyers with a keen sense of proportion can tie with the tips facing backwards, extending the proper distance to allow them to pull forward as the wingcase, then fold back as the legs and get them the right length every time. I can't so I cheat. I also like the fact that the butts make a bit of a meatier wingcase.





tie in some peacock herl





twist herl around tying thread





wrap herl forward and tie off 1 hook eye length back from eye





divide protruding fibers evenly





pull turkey butts forward to form wingcase





tie off and trim





fold near side legs back and tie down





repeat on far side





whip finish, SHHAN and you're done





These lend themselves well to speed tying, like the PT, although the velcro effect between the barbules and hamuli (I looked this stuff up on the interweb so it must be true) of the individual barbs makes turkey tail a bit "sticky" and harder to separate. Like the Skip Nymph, you could easily take the fly down to a #20, although I'd switch to either a Dai-Riki 135 or 125 in the smaller sizes.

[austrotard]

the first step should be take those 200r's and fuck them straight into the bin.


cheers, mate.


we had prawns and west austrian crayfish (as you do).

[ScottP]

the first step should be take those 200r's and fuck them straight into the bin.

on anything smaller than a #14 I agree 100%

[Eider]

Once upon a time in college, someone in front of me on US 93 hit a turkey. I slammed on my breaks, threw the whole bird in the pickup bed, skinned it, cooked it, and ate it. That night I invented this nymph.

I'll send you my address for the royalty payments.

[mijo]

who needs this fly tying 101 lesson? really.

oh I remember the newbies y'all crucify and tell to die in a fire. wrock on w/ yer badass selves.

happy new year assholes and suckers.
miss me?

[Hogleg]

ScottP once got his feelers hurt by mean folks like you poking fun at his SBS's and took his ball home but since then he's hardened the fuck up.

Go ahead, give it your best shot.

[southernstrain]

I used to fish these bitty fuckers alot. They work. Yours are much prettier!

[wildman]

Thanks Scott .