Pheasant Tail Soft Hackle

Wrap thread onto the hook shank from about 1mm behind the eye to the start of the hook bend. Tie in fine gold wire with 5 tight wraps. Tie in the pheasant tail fibers by making two loose wraps followed up with 3 to 5 tight wraps. Trim their bases. Tie in a section of about 5 long pheasant tail fibers.

Wind pheasant tail fibers evenly to form the abdomen. Select the desired number of peacock herls and trim the bases evenly. Tie in herl at the start of the thorax and wrap herl evenly to the front of the thorax.

Select the desired number of peacock herls and trim the bases evenly. Tie in herl at the back part of the thorax and wrap herl evenly to the thorax front. Tie off with 3 to 5 tight thread wraps. Since peacock herl is somewhat fragile, it is a good idea to rib it with the fine wire.

Rib abdomen and thorax with about 10 winds of gold wire. Secure with 5 tight thread wraps Trim away excess wire.

Select hackle for size and expose base by gently stripping off fibers. Tie in by base with two loose winds followed up with 3 to 5 tight winds. Convex side of hackle faces the fly's body. Wrap hackle with 2 winds. Tie off with 5 tight wraps.

Whip finish head with 4 to 8 turns. Pull tag end firmly and cut off excess thread. Place a drop of head cement on knot.