Beadhead Pheasant Tail Flashback     

Hook:   Tiemco TMC 3761 # 12 - 18 

Thread: Dark Brown 8/0 Uni Thread

Rib: Copper Wire

Wingcase: Several strips of pearl Flashabou/Shimmerflash

Thorax: Peacock Herl

Body and Tail: Pheasant Tail

Beadhead: 2mm Gold Bead

Weight: Lead Wire

1/ Firstly slide the bead onto the hook. The bead should have a hole drilled through it the hole being larger in diameter on one side. This enables it to attached easily and the narrow end which goes on first stops it from sliding over the eye of the hook and coming off.
2/ Now add some lead wire to the hook to help it get down quickly. With this particular fly, sinking it right down is very important so all the extra weight we can incorporate into it will be to our benefit. I usually double wrap say .15mm or .20 mm lead wire under the thorax of the this fly. Feel to add no extra weight if it is to be fished in very shallow water.
3/ With the lead in place wrap a layer of thread to hold it securely and then continue towards the rear of the hook stopping above the hook barb. Once this is done take a bunch of pheasant tail fibres and tie in a tail roughly equal to the length of the hook shank.
4/ Next step is to tie in the copper wire which we will use to rib the flies body with. Use any colour copper wire you like but traditional copper and also red/purple copper works especially well when tying this pattern. Now take the thread forward to where the lead is positioned (where the thorax will be located).
5/ You can then take the excess pheasant tail fibres that were left over from tying in the tail and wrap them forward towards the front of the hook. I wind them away from me or in a clockwise direction then wrapping the rib (next step) in the opposite direction to add more strength.
6/ Once the pheasant tail has been wound forward to the rear of the lead and tied off it's time to add the ribbing. Take the copper wire and wind forward, binding the pheasant tail body, in an anti clockwise direction. When you reach the thread tie off and trim the excess wire. This then completes the abdomen or body of the fly.
7/ Next comes the material for the flashback. Take the Flashabou or Shimmerflash, only a few pieces and tie in. make sure to tie it in so that it points to the rear of the fly and is therefore out of the way of the next lot of materials to be added. When this is done trim the excess stubs of flash material from where the thorax is to be tied in.
8/ Now tie in one piece of thick peacock herl. Any more that this is pretty much overkill on such a small pattern. Use the primo sections located at the the bottom of the strand. Tie this in with the thicker part of the herl on the outer side of the direction you intend to wrap. This will cause the herl to flare when wrapped against the hook shank.
9/ Wind the thread to the rear of the gold bead. Then carefully wrap the herl forward to behind the bead where you have left the thread. Make sure each successive wrap is in front of the last so as to not crush any of the previous wraps of herl. Once you have reached the rear of the bead and have created a nice thorax, tie off and trim excess.
10/ Now to add the flashback and finish the fly. Gently pull the flash material back over the herl thorax and to the front of the fly. Feel free to give it a bit of slack and thereby increase the hump of flashback making it more prominent. I just pull it back and let it sink into the herl most of the time. When you are happy with it's appearance tie it off and trim the excess.
11/  There you have it. The famous and extremely successful fly that we pretty much use everywhere we go. A must have on all Victorian rivers it works particularly well in the Goulburn, Mitta Mitta and Swampy Plain rivers. In fact should be carried in all sizes from 12-18 whenever fishing rivers for trout.

The Pattern

This fly has really been one of our favourites at the fly fishing centre. At any time we have a hundred of this humble pattern in our boxes and as far as listing a most successful nymph pattern on the Goulburn this would have to be it. All of you who have read our fishing reports from the past 2 years would know of it's reputation. Great when fished in fast water and over drop offs it is the first choice when fishing the sliding indicator rig with a Royal Stimulator on top. Speaking of which we will add the Royal Stimulator next week.

Only a few weeks until the season opens and this combination could be the one for taking your first fish of the season with low water on the Goulburn a strong possibility.

See you next week!