The Field Journal

Flies

Pheasant Tail Nymph

Pheasant Tail Nymph

Key points

Imitates: mayfly and stonefly nymphs (and a bit of everything); fish #8–14 .
Fish it: weighted, near the bottom, under an indicator through seams — see River Nymphing .
Alt: Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear as the partner pattern.

Imitates

Mayflies and Stoneflies (nymphs).

Related

River Nymphing — the method.
Prince Nymph / Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear Nymph — the other core nymphs.

Where next

Keep moving

What it imitates Damselflies An early-summer stillwater event: damselfly nymphs migrate to shore to hatch, and trout ambush them en masse. Fish a damsel nymph on an intermediate/sink-tip wi How to fish it River Nymphing The most consistent way to catch river trout when nothing's rising — get a weighted nymph drifting near the bottom through a seam, under an indicator. The defau Reference Hatch charts Month-by-month guide to insect life and matching the hatch.