Quasimodo Pheasant Tail
Hook: Tiemco 2488 or curved nymph hook of choice
size #14 to #20.
Bead: Gold bead or bead of choice to match the size
of hook. A slightly over oversized bead
is needed for this pattern.
Tying
thread: Brown UTC 70 or thread of choice.
Tail: Pheasant tail fibers.
Rib: Copper small wire.
Abdomen: Wrapped Pheasant tail fibers.
Thorax: Peacock Herl.
Flash back/Wing case: Pearl Flashabou or pearl tinsel.
Legs: Pheasant tail fibers.
Sometimes
slight variations in the material and/or the profile of a fly can make a
difference in enticing a fish to bite.
This fly is really a traditional Pheasant Tail Nymph with three (3)
small variations. First, it’s tied on a
curved short shank hook rather than straight hook. Secondly, the bead on the Quasimodo is
slightly oversized. Finally, the wing
case consists of Pearl Flashabou or
pearl tinsel instead of Pheasant tail fibers.
I like to tie the Quasimodo’s as small as possible. It is one of my ‘go to nymphs’ on the
Farmington River. There has been a great
development with regard to Pheasant Tail fibers in the last 4-5 years. YOU CAN BUY THEM IN DYED COLORS. My two favorite colors are orange &
olive.
To
tie this fly, begin by placing a slightly oversized bead on your hook. The recipe calls for a gold bead, but I often
use copper or sometimes black. I believe
it’s good to change up your bead color on a heavily fished tail water like the
Farmington. Also, because these flies
are so small, adding lead is impossible.
To get them down I make sure I use a tungsten bead. Next, wrap the shank of the hook with your
thread. Tie in three (3) Pheasant tail
fibers for the tail. They should be
roughly a hook shank gap in length. Tie
in your small copper rib. If I’m tying
my fly in dyed orange pheasant tail fibers, I might use red wire. If I’m tying the fly in olive, I might use
chartreuse. Next, tie in 1-3 more pheasant
tail fibers by the tip. Wrap them
forward approximately 2/3rds down the hook shank to form the abdomen. Tie and clip the excess off. Counter rib your fly with the wire. Tie and clip off. You are now going to tie in approximately six
(6) pheasant tail fibers for your legs (just like a standard pheasant tail
nymph). The tips should extend beyond
your bead. Ultimately, you are going to
fold them back for your legs. Measure
them carefully for the proper leg length.
Trim and cut the butts. Next, tie
in 1-2 strands of pearl flashabou for your wing case. Next, tie in 1-2 strands of peacock herl for
your thorax. Wrap the peacock herl
forward and tie it off behind the bead.
Next, bring your flash/wing case forward and split your legs. Tie & clip it off behind the bead. When you tie it off you must fold your ‘legs’
back. Secure and position them with
additional wraps. Whip finish and clip
off your thread. If you like ad a dab of head cement to your wraps.
In
The Riffle has a great video on how to tie this pattern below:
They also have a great
website at http://intheriffle.com .
If
you have any questions about this fly or would like to submit a Fly of the
Month I can be reached at 203 305-3850 or at pdinice@frontier.com .
