Steelhead Pheasant Softhackle

[ScottP]

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






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






tie in another clump of pt fibers; wrap body






spiral rib forward; helicopter end and tie down






prep an aftershaft feather (trim off the tip)

[ScottP]

Part 2

unwind thread to remove the twist; separate with bodkin




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










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






prep a pheasant rump feather




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






Regards,
Scott

[lee s]

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

[rainbowchaser]

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.

[ScottP]

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

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



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

[DUB]

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