CDC Hot Spot Pheasant Tail

Created by Jeff Morgan

HOOK: Dai Riki 310 size 14-18 THREAD: Brown TAIL: Pheasant Tail RIBBING: Copper wire BODY: Pheasant Tail THORAX: Chartreuse, fluorescent red, or fluorescent orange Uni-Stretch WINGCASE: Mottled turkey oak nymph skin LEGS: Pearl Krystalflash HACKLE: Dun CDC HEAD (OPTIONAL): 3/32 copper or gold bead

Uses

The bright thorax may help fish focus on this variation of the traditional Pheasant Tail Nymph. "Hot spots" such as this bright thorax may not be as unnatural as they might appear. For more on this subject, see the article Hot Spots.

Variations

Vary the size of the fly to match different insect species. Can be tied with or without a beadhead.

How to match various species of nymphs

How to Fish

In rivers, the fly can be presented near the surface, but it is usually most productive when fished near the bottom on a dead drift with the indicator or tight line presentations.

 
On lakes, use an intermediate line and a slow retrieve.

Tying Instructions

1. Debarb hook, slide bead over hook, place in vise, and start thread.

 
2. Tie in 3-5 pheasant tail fibers for the tail. Tie in copper ribbing.

 
3. Wrap pheasant tail up hook shank and tie off.

 
4. Wrap ribbing.

 
5. Tie in Nymph Skin and Uni-stretch. Wrap Uni-Stretch thorax.

 
6. Pull Nymph Skin over thorax, tie off.

 
7. Tie in Krystalflash legs, one on each side of thorax.

 
8. Tie in CdC feather. It is easier and less bulky to tie in the feather as a "sheath" around the fly rather than wrapping it as a true hackle. Trim stray hackle fibers extending beyond tail tips.

 
9. Whip finish and trim thread.