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Bead Head Pheasant Tail Nymph

The Bead Head Pheasant Tail Nymph is a weighted variation of Frank Sawyer’s classic Pheasant Tail Nymph and is one of the most dependable mayfly nymph patterns in fly fishing. The bead helps the fly sink quickly and adds a subtle attraction, making it especially useful in deeper runs, pocket water, and fast currents. It can be dead-drifted beneath an indicator, fished as part of a multi-nymph rig, or suspended below a dry fly. Bead Head Pheasant Tails are commonly tied in sizes 12 through 20 and can imitate a wide range of mayfly nymphs, including Blue-Winged Olives and Pale Morning Duns. Keeping the body slim and reinforcing the fragile pheasant-tail fibers are the main considerations when tying the pattern.

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