Tying Sawyer's Pheasant Tail Nymph

In this video, our friend Lou DiGena, ties the original pheasant tail nymph as tied by the originator, Frank Sawyer.  This is the pattern that spawned all of today's pheasant tail variations.  It is a safe bet that one or more versions of this incredibly effective nymph can be found in just about every trout fly fishermen's arsenal.

Tim Flagler, of Tightline Productions, filmed this at the Annual Sparse Gray Matter Fly Tying Festival a couple of weeks ago in Califon, NJ.

The fly could be more simple in terms of technique and materials.

Hook: #12-24 1X long nymph
Thread: Copper wire
Tail/body/wingcase: Pheasant tail

I'll take a dozen, Lou.

Sharpen those hooks!