The Steelhead Pheasant Tail

By Chris King

(Submitted by Sac River Outfitters)

Steelhead PT
(click image for detail)

Recipe:

            Hook: Tiempco 2457 size 16-12

            Thread: Brown 8/0

            Tail: Natural Pheasant Tail Barbules

            Rib: Copper Wire

            Abdomen: Pheasant Tail Barbules

            Wing Case: Flashabou

            Thorax: Peacock Herl

            Legs: Flashabou

            Head: Brass Bead

The Flashback Bead head Pheasant Tail is one of the best flies for the fall season in Northern California. With cooler temperatures the beatis start to fly as well as other mayflies and this is one of the most versatile fly patterns for imitating a large variety of mayflies for both Trout and Steelhead. Since most May Flies are slender I prefer to tie my PT’s rather sparse. This is essential for Steelhead as I often tie a small fly on a large hook. This technique is quite easy really. You simply start a little closer to the eye of the hook than you normally would for most flies. The result is a small pattern with a large hook sticking out the back end. I’ve found that when I am catching Steelhead on a particular pattern and seem to be losing them because it is small, going to a larger fly sometimes turns the fish off the pattern. In this situation tying the same size fly on a bigger hook is usually the answer. The fish don’t seem to mind the large hook and it helps keep the hard fighting Steelies on a bit longer.

Step 1

Slide a bead onto the hook and place it in your vise. Tie on your thread and wrap it back to just behind the hook point. Tie in a small clump of pheasant tail barbules (3-6) so that a small amount of the points stick out the back end. The tail shoul be no longer that the body of the fly.

Step 2

Bend the barbules back toward the back of the fly and secure with several wraps of thread. Tie in a piece of thin copper wire.

Step 3

Wrap the barbules forward ¾ the length of the fly and secure with several wraps of thread. Then counter wrap the copper wire to create the rib and add strength. Secure with thread.

Step 4

Tie in a few (4-8) strands of flashabou lying back to the tail of the fly. Then tie a few pieces of peacock herl and secure with thread.

Step 5

Wrap the herl around the hook creating a small ball for a thorax and secure. Pull the flashabou over the top of the ball and secure.

Step 6

To finish the fly, divide the flashabou evenly and pull back along each side of the fly and secure. Tie off by whip finish or half hitch and trim the flashabou to the length of the thorax.