Pheasant Tail

Pheasant Tail

The Pheasant Tail is one of the most effective and enduring nymph patterns in fly fishing — a simple, elegant design developed by Frank Sawyer in the 1950s that has been fooling selective trout on rivers and tailwaters around the world ever since. Its slim, tapered profile and natural pheasant tail fibers create a precise imitation of the slim-bodied mayfly nymphs that trout feed on heavily throughout the season. The unweighted version rides naturally in the current and is ideal for fishing in the film, as a dropper behind a dry fly, or in slower, shallower water where a beadhead would sink too fast.

Pattern Details

• Style: Classic nymph / mayfly nymph imitation
• Body: Pheasant tail fibers — slim, tapered profile with natural segmentation that closely imitates slim-bodied mayfly nymphs
• Best water: Rivers, tailwaters, and spring creeks — especially effective in slower runs, flat water, and wherever selective trout are feeding on mayfly nymphs
• Target species: Trout
• Techniques: Dead-drifted under an indicator through feeding lanes; fished in the film as a dropper behind a dry fly; tight-line nymphed through slower runs and pools
• Sizes available: 16, 18

A timeless classic that has stood the test of time on the world’s most demanding trout waters — the Pheasant Tail’s slim, natural profile and precise mayfly imitation make it one of the most reliable nymphs in the box when trout are feeding selectively.