LARGER IMAGE so you get a close up look at the finished pattern.
Pattern Dressing…
Hook: TMC 3761, size 14 to 10
Thread: Black, 8/0
Head: Brass bead, size to suit
Tail: 4 to 6 pheasant tail fibres
Body: Pheasant tail fibres
Rib: Medium brass wire
Beard: 4 to 6 pheasant tail fibres
Wing: 5 to 7 pheasant tail fibres
Tying Sequence…
Debarb hook, feed appropriately-sized brass bead onto shank and secure bead tight behind eye with thread.
Build up tapered underbody of tying thread… to give pheasant tail body the desired shape.
Select 4 to 6 long pheasant tail fibres for the tail and tie onto shank, leaving butt ends to use as body; tie in wire rib.
Wind butt ends of tail fibres to bead, tie off and trim excess.
Counter-wind wire ribbing to bead, tie off and trim excess.
Turn fly over – upside down – and tie in 4 to 6 pheasant tail fibres as beard; trim excess.
Turn fly over – right side up – and tie in 5 to 7 pheasant tail fibres as wing, trim excess and whip finish.
Finished fly.
A simple pattern that is very easy to tie. If you can tie a Doc Spratley, the Beady Eyed Pheasant is basically a ‘stripped down’ Spratley. Now… go tie some… find a good weedy stillwater, and… hang on!!!
Richard Mayer
About the Pattern | Pattern History