As Fly Tyers we all have our favorite materials, patterns and techniques. And while I love pheasant tail as a material in fly patterns, I’ve never grown a fondness for the Pheasant Tail classic pattern. Nothing against the pattern, it has proven itself over a period longer than I have walked his earth. But I lean towards dubbed bodies on nymphs. I like movement and trapped air. And I prefer a little flash. So the classic PT Nymph just never gained my confidence over the years. But be that as it may, the result has been to find a dubbing blend that I do have confidence in. One that has the color when wet that PT has, and the rest of the properties I’m looking for. Here is what I use. If it’s for you, by all means give it a try.
Lot’s of PT dubbing substitutes on the market. Your blend seems a bit light but would probably work. In my opinion, brown tying thread works just as well.
Funny. I’ve never loved the other fundamental nymph, the Hare’s Ear. I’ve caught 100’s of trout on PT’s, so they are one of my staples. I know that dubbed nymphs like the GRHE catch tons of fish, but for some odd reason, I’ve never got in the habit of fishing them. I don’t even have any rational explanation like yours.
Like most fly tyers, a GRHE was one of the first flies that I tied, and a Hare’s Mask was an early purchase. I probably still have a BHFBGRHE (longest acronym I’ve ever typed) that went into my nymph box before many of you were born.
As you say Ralph, we all have our favorites, … and mine ain’t all that logical.
Bruce,
I am with you on this. I used hare’s ear flies when I first started fly fishing, decades ago, but it has not been a goto fly for me for the last couple of decades. I do use PT nymphs a lot though. May be a Colorado thing?
Ted
I truly think much of it is a confidence thing more than what works better. I fish side by side with fishing buddies that love the PT or the HE. And we all catch fish out of the same pools. I’ve tied probably thousands of PT nymphs over the years…fished them alot early on, and at times did well with them. But they never did as much for me. OR…I never gave it chance? We all fish what we have the most confidence in I reckon. I’ve settled on several variations using more dubbing.
