A pheseant tail, the trout killer

[Bjay]

Hi guys
Here is a photo of some pheseant tails. No box should be with out them as they work all year, they are heavy and sink like crazy. I add lead behind the bead to hold the bead in place and give exra weght. The diameter of the lead depends on the size of the fly. I coat the lead in in a thick layer of glue. Wire works but is 1/2 the weght of lead. I use red thread most of the time. It tells me I have extra weight on the hook. I use orange beads or orange thread as hot spots. HOT SPOTS ON FLIES ARE ESENTIAL AT TIMES. The hook sizes very fron 16 to 10. Most comon size is a #14. All scud hooks. 2x srong if at all possible. ( #2457's) I use black, red and natural brown phesean tail for the feather. Most patterns are tied with a gold bead, but as you can see, not always. I use these in lakes and rivers, they are deadly.
BJay

[densa44]

I'm ashamed to show mine. After years of tying them and living in Alberta for 50 years, I now tie caddis dry and hoppers, both elk hair and over the years they look a lot the same.

I keep hearing my grandfather's admonition, "careful wading and presentation work better than anything else" I amd sure that he was right!

Very nice work!

[Mr Flyguy]

I dunno, I prefer to use pheasant tails instead of pheseant tails.

[Bjay]

Opps
At 82 you would think I had learned to spell. Can't spell, but can still tie flies but even that seams to be slipping a bit. BUT, I do catch way more fish that I did when i was younger.
BJ

[Mr Flyguy]

Originally Posted by Bjay

Opps
At 82 you would think I had learned to spell. Can't spell, but can still tie flies but even that seams to be slipping a bit. BUT, I do catch way more fish that I did when i was younger.
BJ

Good on ya. I'll be 82 this October and still hope to tie flies and fish for many (well at least a few) more years! Maybe I'll even figure out how to post pictures on the forum.

[ALBTUFF]

Pheasant tails are a staple in my fly boxes. Here is one I tied, BH pheasant tail flash back. Last pic is my nymph box I completed a short while ago. 134 ready to go and starting on the next box.

[BungMan]

I never use pheasant tail for the tailing of nymphs (or anything else). I find them weak and not very durable. I substitute almost anything else for the tails (mostly coq de leon).

[Bjay]

Holy crap Albtuff do you loose a lot of flies or do you just like to tie???
I have a lot of flies but yours are way more neat than mine. My boxes just arn't layed out as nice a yours. Looks excellent. Very nicely tied.
Bjay

[ALBTUFF]

Originally Posted by Bjay

Holy crap Albtuff do you loose a lot of flies or do you just like to tie???
I have a lot of flies but yours are way more neat than mine. My boxes just arn't layed out as nice a yours. Looks excellent. Very nicely tied.
Bjay

Well I have decorated a few trees with flies before.
I enjoy tying during the winter months, tied about 500+ this last winter. Thank you for the comments, I have OCD when it comes to my fly fishing gear, everything has its place.

[Bjay]

Hi
If you are wading on the rivers a lot it might be to your advantage to get a single hand spey line and really learn to use it. They are wonderfull in tight places and they make it real easy to cast with only a short bit of the line out.
Mine have a 28 foot head and that makes it cast lik a rocket. Doing a short roll cast is a breeze. With practice you can learn to roll cast 60 feet of line easilly.
Not so good on lakes as the line tends to curl up if left on still water due to the thickness.
I use mine on the lake also when using a strike indicator as it cast so well and just put up with the curllng problem.
A short 35 or 36 foot head may nor curl as much as the 28 foot head. I havn't tried a 35 foot head yet.
Cheers
Bjay

[keeks]

ALBTUFF, real nice box of nymphs. I can still remember the first fish I caught on my hand tied fly. Beauty Rocky on the RDR.

k

[ALBTUFF]

Originally Posted by keeks

ALBTUFF, real nice box of nymphs. I can still remember the first fish I caught on my hand tied fly. Beauty Rocky on the RDR.

k

Thanks Keeks. Stay turned I am just finishing another nymph box. I just started tying back in Nov. 2023 and I have really been enjoying it.