Pheasant Tail Nymph per Frank Sawyer

[Mataura mayfly]

Nice work William.
What or rather which wire did you use?
I have some very fine but more red coloured wire, salvaged from an old radio part, that I like using for these. Beggar of a stuff to spool and use with a bobbin holder, but if you cut off a length around about what you think you might need and tie these PT's up, it works just like thread- you can even whip finish with it.

[letumgo]

Are these tyed with the wire Stefan sent over? Such a nice color.

[William Anderson]

Are these tyed with the wire Stefan sent over? Such a nice color.

Jeff and Ray, the wire is the fine, dark, reddish copper colored, reclaimed wire Stefan was kind enough to send some time ago. It's perfect for these. I've spooled a lot of it. Definitely worth doing. John Shaner was kind enough to give me some that someone had already spooled, virtually the same as this. It really coordinates with the pheasant.

[hankaye]

dub-ya, Howdy;

Very well tyed PTs. Your familiarity with tying them shows .
Do you have some of the "Browner" European Pheasant to use
as well as Stephan's wire?

hank

[Smuggler]

Thanks all. I am still infatuated by this fly. I sit at the vise without a plan and it's the first thing that comes to mind. These work great and sink quick. As a point fly where a soft hackle is on a dropper these are often taken on the swing. I just like tying them.

Aren't these fun to tie? I enjoy tying them in the traditional sense by cutting a length of wire and free handing them. Gives you a better understanding for fly durability and a greater respect for the simple yet effective design.

[William Anderson]

dub-ya, Howdy;

Very well tyed PTs. Your familiarity with tying them shows .
Do you have some of the "Browner" European Pheasant to use
as well as Stephan's wire?

hank

Hank, I'm only aware of the ring neck pheasant (common pheasant) used for this fly. Not sure about a brown pheasant, but ringnecks are a bird native to Eastern Asia, imported to Western Europe at some time shortly before being introduced into California around 1850 and then introduced to the Eastern U.S. around 1880. Sawyer would certainly have had loads of ringnecks at his disposal. They quickly became a very popular game bird in the UK. One of the things I like most about the ringneck tails is that rich irredescent quality.

[Mataura mayfly]

I think Ringneck would have been (and still is) the Pheasant of choice when it comes to donating tail feathers for PT nymphs, but I tie a lot of them with Golden Pheasant tail feathers.

[hankaye]

dub-ya, Howdy;

It was my understanding that the "Euro" ring necks were of a darker Brown color
then the ones we have here in the States. Might be wrong, ... won't be the fist time.
Perhaps some of the knowledgeable might help out here???

hank

PS just stumbled across this from 1878 starts on pg. 387;
https://books.google.com/books?id=CS9JA ... ts&f=false

[William Anderson]

Jeff, I've used golden pheasant for loads of patterns. We have lots of nymphs sporting beautiful mottling. Besides, the golden pheasant is just striking. I have tied a few PTN's using Sawyer's construction, but haven't photographed any. Here's a bastardized version.

[Mataura mayfly]

Here you go Hank, Hans seems to back up your Euro versus Ringneck theory.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1Jd1YAMntw