The Pheasant Tail Nymph, commonly known as the PT Nymph, was originally
tied by Frank Sawyer MBE, who, as river keeper of the River Avon in
Southern England, designed the fly to imitate the local Baeits that
were prolific along the slow stretches of his home water.
Sawyer
wrote about his brilliant little “nymph” pattern during a time when
subsurface fly fishing in England was more than frowned upon. Despite
the negative initial reaction to his nymphs, anglers around the world
quickly folded the Pheasant Tail Nymph into the collective fly fishing
lore and recognized its effectiveness at catching trout.
The
Pheasant Tail Nymph is small and brown and can be tied in a number of
variations to match a staggering range of mayfly species. When tied
with darker feathers, the Pheasant Tail Mahogany is a fantastic
imitation of the Mahogany Mayfly in its nymph life stage. Don’t be
fooled by the simplicity of this classic fly pattern – leave that to
the trout!
Specifications:
- This fly pattern was developed by Frank Sawyer MBE while seving as river keeper of the River Avon in Southern England
- The Pheasant Tail Nymph is one of the world’s oldest nymph patterns as well as one of the most tied and fished fly patterns and serves as the backbone of modern nymph design
- Mahogany mayfly imitation in the nymph life stage
- Fish as a either an impressionistic fly pattern when searching or as a realistic imitation when matching the hatch
- Fish on a dead drift in slower water as mahogany mayfly nymphs favor medium to slow currents for emergence
- Look for sheltered areas with lots of subsurface vegetation and fish with an upstream presentation, mending line for a dragless dead drift
- Nymphs move to hatch from early morning through mid-afternoon and evening hours in relatively unpredictable bursts of activity
- Fish just before and during a hatch for best results
- When targeting fish during a prolific hatch, aim for specific rises and take great care not to disturb feeding fish
- SIZE 18
When and Where to Fish the Pheasant Tail Nymph – Mahogany
This
classic mayfly nymph can be fished either as an impressionistic fly
imitation or as a realistic imitation when matching the hatch. Fish
this fly in medium to slow water from early morning through the evening
hours – mahogany mayflies are active from sunrise to sunset in somewhat
unpredictable spurts. As nymphs, they are not strong crawlers or
clingers and are often caught by the main current where they will
become vulnerable to trout. Upon emergence, they use their rather
clumsy swimming skills to reach the surface of quiet water near the
margins of their river or stream to hatch into adult duns. Look for
emergent mahogany mayfly nymphs as they move from slower riffles and
current seams to even slower water; thick vegetation, roots, and plant
debris offer quiet shelter to these relatively defenseless nymphs, and
these areas are prime real estate for prolific mahogany hatches.
How to Fish the Pheasant Tail Nymph – Mahogany
Fish
this fly on a dead drift through medium to slow water types; slower
current seams and longer intersections of sheltered areas and long,
slow runs are generally very productive water for mahogany mayfly
nymphs. The mahogany is a very poor swimmer and its successful
emergence at the water’s surface film usually requires several
attempts. Subsequently, the mahogany mayfly expends a considerable
amount of energy during its hatch period; the trout that feed on these
large nymphs do not. When a hatch is in full swing, be sure to watch
the individual rises of feeding trout closely and aim for a specific
fish – the drift is like a conveyor belt stocked with food during a
hatch and a trout is not likely to move very far from its holding
position to snag another neat little package of mahogany protein.
Because these bugs often emerge in very slow and shallow water, it is
imperative that an angler approach a likely hatching area with care and
subtlety. When casting to these quiet areas, use long leaders, light
tippet, and do not cast fly line directly above fish – make casts well
upstream of observed feeding rises.
Mahogany
The mahogany (Paraleptophlebia)
is a species of mayfly named after its characteristic deep chocolate
brown color, and enjoys a wide and healthy distribution throughout
North America’s rivers and streams. During its nymph life stage, the
mahogany is identified by its long, slender body, three prominent
tails, and long, flanking, hair-like gills. As an adult, these
beautiful mayflies take on a rich, almost sophisticated look. They are
easily identified by their long, mahogany brown thoraxes and abdomens
and contrasting cream colored legs and tails. Eastern species of this
mayfly tend to display opaque slate colored wings, while western
varieties of the mahogany dun develop a more transparent set of smoky
to clear wings. These mayflies hatch on a yearly cycle and are most
active in the fall and the spring. Mahogany mayflies are not very
strong insects and shy from fast water. This species generally makes
its home in piles of vegetation debris, streamside roots, and in weedy
spring creeks. Slow water of gentle riffles, soft current seams, and
lazy eddys is prime real estate for these timid insects.
Mahogany Nymph Life Stage
During
its nymph life stage, these weak-legged swimmers are commonly found
moving clumsily from slow water types to areas of even slower currents.
The most prolific nymph populations tend to occur in cool,
well-oxygenated water; the transition zones from riffles and soft
current seams to slower eddys and slack water are perfect spots to look
for mahogany mayfly nymphs. These relatively small insects love
shelter, making weedy river bottoms and areas with lots of debris and
vegetation prime mahogany habitat. Because their swimming ability is
also notably underdeveloped, these mahogany-brown nymphs will commonly
expose themselves by making clumsy attempts at emergence and subsequent
hatching in slow water near the margin of their river or stream
environment. Mahogany nymphs will hatch in both the spring (April and
May) and fall (August through October) on rivers throughout North
America. These hatches can occur at any point during the day. Hatching
activity is sporadic to say the least, but overcast days can create
excellent fly fishing situations. Trout can zero in on a solid hatch of
mahogany mayflies, however, making them an important bug to understand
and imitate.
About the Tyer: Frank Sawyer MBE
The
late Frank Sawyer served as river keeper of the River Avon in Southern
England and is most widely recognized as the designer of the Pheasant
Tail Nymph, a fly pattern that quite literally serves as a model for
most of today’s modern nymphs. During his good service to his river,
Frank also published two important works on fly fishing and life. The
first, “Trout and the Nymph,” went to press in 1958 and outlines his
philosophy on fly fishing for trout with subsurface fly patterns. The
second work, “Keeper of the Stream,” was published in 1974 and is a
beautiful and timeless contemplation on river keeping, fishing,
responsibility, and love of life. Modern fly tyers and fishers owe a
great deal to Mr. Sawyer, a man who dared to cast a nymph into a dry
fly infested English chalk stream to re-imagine history.
Leland on Umpqua
In
1972 a man named Dennis Black and his fly tying skills found themselves
in high demand. Mr. Black, then a professional production fly tyer, was
famous in the industry for his unsurpassed skill and speed with
whipping up tremendously beautiful and precisely constructed flies. It
wasn’t long until this young fly tying superstar realized that he ought
to take his consistent approach to quality to the next level. Shortly
after this realization, a small army of fly tyers had banded together
to support Mr. Black’s vision. With the likes of Dave Whitlock, Jack
Dennis, and Andy Puyans, Mr. Black was officially in business.
Dennis
Black’s new company Umpqua Feather Merchants quickly extended its reach
and fly production capabilities with expansion into India, Sri Lanka,
and Thailand, where the world’s first and full blown “fly tying
factories” were built. Since those early days, only the highest
standard of excellence has marked Umpqua and this commitment to quality
and efficiency continues to spur the company forward. Dennis Black’s
innovative vision for “fly production” has truly revolutionized how the
fly industry operates and has ultimately made the majority of
production flies better. From the first “royalty system” for rewarding
the most creative professional fly tyers to streamlining production
systems and offering a range of other products, Umpqua Feather
Merchants just seems to “do it all.”
Today, Umpqua Feather
Merchants is without a doubt the world’s best and most prolific
supplier of hand tied fly fishing flies as well as fly tying hooks and
materials, and they recently got better! Umpqua’s brand new, state of
the art headquarters in Louisville, Colorado marks another paradigm
shift in the way fly tying business is done. From its vast warehouse to
its specially designed inventory management and tracking system, Umpqua
is poised to continue its energetic trajectory and lead the way for the
next generation of flies and fly tyers.
Umpqua on Umpqua
"As you may or may not know, we're the
largest producer of quality hand-tied flies in the world. We also make
available through your local fly shop a wide array of the finest
fly-tying hackle and Tiemco hooks.
At Umpqua we offer
everything the angler needs to a have a first class fishing experience.
(Everything that is, but the water and the fish.)"
Umpqua on Dennis Black and the “Obvious Quest”
“The idea
first took shape in the hands of our founder, Dennis Black, back in
1972. As a fast and facile professional fly tyer, Dennis was known for
his skill and speed at producing hundreds of dozens of flies each year
for the larger mail order houses. But he was also quick to realize how
fast the demand for excellent flies would outstrip the abilities of
cottage industry types like him.
The Obvious Quest: To create
excellent flies in sufficient supply – without sinking his standards.
In response, Dennis developed (with characteristic care) a methodical
plan: First, he enlisted the tying expertise of the likes of Dave
Whitlock, Jack Dennis, Andy Puyans and others, to help him set the
standard of excellence for Umpqua flies.
Next, Dennis
established the first of what would eventually be five separate
fly-tying “factories,” first in India, then in Sri Lanka, and finally
in Thailand. The primary focus at each of these factories was on
producing the very best fishing flies possible, constructed of the very
best materials available. From the beginning, the quantity of flies
produced was secondary to the quality and excellence of each fly
pattern. These high standards were assured by the personal involvement
of the fly designers themselves, and by the ever-increasing skill,
imagination and creativity of the Umpqua production fly tiers. Today,
you will find no flies more skillfully tied than those available from
Umpqua Feather Merchants.
Finally, Dennis created a system of
royalty payments, to reward professional tyers like Whitlock, Lefty
Kreh, Randall Kaufman, Larry Dahlberg, and Bob Popovics for uniquely
good patterns.
The Result: Today, Umpqua produces umpteen
thousand dozen flies, from micro-scopic midge imitations to the huge
patterns favored by marlin and sailfish. And the "Umpquality" – you’ll
see for yourself.”
