Cove's Pheasant Tail Nymph

Let's tie yet another version of the Pheasant Tail Nymph.  This large chironomid pattern comes from across the pond via the late Arthur Cove. 

These over-sized "buzzers," as they are called in the United Kingdom, were originally tied on long shank hooks in sizes 8-12.  Cove then switched to normal nymph hooks and started dressing the body down the bend of the hook; giving the familiar curved look we see a lot of today.  

Now you may be asking yourself, "Why such a big pattern?"  The story goes Cove took a few fish home, but left them in the sink for a couple of hours.  When here returned to clean them, he noticed some rather large "buzzers" had hatched!  He claimed one was an inch and a half in length!

Although the Pacific Northwest grows some rather "buzzers" on many waters, I am a little apprehensive to readily tie a size 8 chironomid pattern on my tippet.  However, these big flies sink like rocks!  Admittedly, sizes 12 through 18 work like a dream on both the lakes and rivers.

With the myriad of materials available today a tier could get some fairly unique variations of the original, e.g., dyed pheasant, UTC wires, shiny "hot" colors in the thorax, flash backs, hot butts, rubber legs, etc.  I have a couple unique ideas to try this winter.  Might even "chuck and duck" a size 8 bead head version!

Cove's book, My Way With Trout, is still available (paperback only) and considered by many in the United Kingdom the bible of stillwater fishing.

Materials:

Hook:  Daiichi 1120, sizes 8-18
Thread:  6/0 brown
Body:  Pheasant tail fibers
Rib:  Copper wire, size to match hook/body
Wing case:  Pheasant tail fibers
Thorax:  Hare's ear, natural

Step 1;:

Pinch barb with vise.  Secure hook.  Start thread approximately one length behind eye and wrap rearward to the midway point.

Step 2:

Tie in and secure copper wire to the far side of the shank with wraps to the bend.  Stopping point is pictured.

Step 3:

Select 5 to 8 pheasant tail fibers.  Draw them 90-degrees from the stem to align and pluck or cut away.  Tie in by the tips.  Once secure take wide wraps forward as pictured.  This will help keep the body thin.

Counter wrap pheasant fibers forward in close turns stopping at approximately the 75-percent point on the shank. Remove butt ends

Wrap copper wire clockwise over body in 7 or 8 even segments.  Position thread as noted.  This will become the tie in point for the wing case.

Step 4:

Select 8 to 10 pheasant tail fibers.  Trim butt ends even.  Your pheasant tail has a light side and a dark side.  Tie the fibers in with the dark side down, butt ends first.  When the wing case is folded over the thorax the darker fibers will show.  Note the distance between the tie in point and back of the eye.

Step 5:

Dub a thorax of hare's ear.  The thorax should be slightly thicker than normal.  Note position of thread.

Step 6:

Bring wing case over the thorax.  Ensure fibers lay flat and not bunched/stack on one another.  Secure wing case by making a few flat thread wraps towards the thorax.  Now wrap towards the eye.  Lift fibers and take an angled turn to prop the fibers and then behind.  Pluck away fibers individually. This alleviates cutting the fibers and allows for a very professional looking head.

Step 7:

Whip finish... Bam!

Enjoy!