Kleis's Fly Of The Week - BH FB PT

The Bead Head Flash Back Pheasant Tail nymph is a staple that just about anybody who has fished a nymph rig has in their box.  The original Pheasant Tail was created by Frank Sawyer and was tied only using wire as a thread and pheasant tail fibers.  Franks original has spawned many variations including the one I tied above since.

Hook: Orvis Big Eye

Bead: Spirit River Brass Nickel 

Thread: UTC FL. Fire Orange
Wing Case: Lateral Scale Crystal Flash

Tail: Pheasant Tail Fibers

Abdomen: Pheasant Tail Fibers

Rib: Small Copper Wire

Thorax: Peacock Black Ice Dub

Legs: Pheasant Tail Fibers

Head Cement Finish: Sally Hansen Hard As Nails

The Pheasant Tail is one of those generic patterns that could be mistaken by a trout for just about anything depending on the size PT you are fishing and the time of year.  The two hatches that I have seen on the South Platte and Arkansas River that this fly best imitates are the Pale Morning Dun nymph and the Yellow Sally Stonefly nymph.  I can't even fathom the amount of Pheasant Tails the fish in our river systems see which is why I think it's important to give them different looks.  Some people prefer Gold beads to Silver.   Some prefer to use a red collar as apposed to the hot orange as shown above.  Flash Back or no Flash Back, etc...  They all catch fish!  Here is a pretty cool Black and White video of Frank tying the original!