Steelhead Pheasant Softhackle

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...pseedd2c7a.jpg

Getting some mileage out of a pheasant skin and tail. Pretty much a tricked-out Carey Special; unknown if it's effective on steelhead but I'd give it a shot on their cousins.

hook - Dai Riki 899 #6
thread - MFC 8/0 brown
tag/rib - small wire copper
tail/abdomen/wing - pheasant tail
thorax - pheasant aftershaft
hackle - pheasant rump


Part 1


mash barb, start thread, tie in rib, wrap back halfway between barb and point; wrap wire forward to point

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psa5170c8a.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4d28d24d.jpg


measure (gap width past bend) some pt fibers; tie in

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps771a5df6.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps56994f14.jpg


tie in another clump of pt fibers; wrap body

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps410fd3df.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psba186d4d.jpg


spiral rib forward; helicopter end and tie down

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4ec3816f.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4ea8b05b.jpg


prep an aftershaft feather (trim off the tip)

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps18af1eac.jpg

Part 2

unwind thread to remove the twist; separate with bodkin

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps012ec16a.jpg


insert aftershaft, spin bobbin, moisten/stroke back and wrap

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7cc50652.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psd294bc43.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6366d440.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3c72dd48.jpg


even tips on another clump of pt; measure (halfway back to tip of tail) and tie in

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7d1dbdd5.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps85d48e27.jpg


prep a pheasant rump feather

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psff826be6.jpg


tie in by tip, stroke fibers back and wrap; tie off, trim, build up head, whip, SHHAN

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9b9892c5.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...pseedd2c7a.jpg


Regards,
Scott

VERY NICE!
Gotta try some.
...lee s.

Sems to be a relative of the sparrow which I know Is a good steelhead fly. I'm going to try the split thread for the aftershaft next time I tie some sparrows. It might make the fly more durable.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rainbowchaser

Sems to be a relative of the sparrow which I know Is a good steelhead fly.

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I pulled some of the techniques from the Chuck Bug, which was my neighbor's variation on the Sparrow

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_0661.jpg

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/s...7610-Chuck-Bug


If I had had a full pheasant skin with me (I have some plain and dyed brown and olive at home), I would have made the tail/body from pheasant marabou, which would have incorporated even more of the bird into the pattern.


Regards,
Scott

I like what you did with the split thread. Opens up a lot of possibilities for other patterns. Good job

Jim Teeny's Teeny Nymph is, for all intents and purposes, a pheasant tail. Lot of steel caught on that pattern, although not by me. But I can state that a plain old BHPT will take a steelie now and then. Yours is a lot prettier than mine ever were, tho.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...05_4fly_lc.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...12105_4_lc.jpg