The ringneck pheasant is a bird that I believe is underutilized in fly tying. While you may say what about the "Pheasant Tail nymphs" that's a fly that is perhaps the most recognized fly in the world, and it's true. But the tail is only a small part of the feathers available to the tyer. One fly tyer and angler that I know of used the pheasant in many of his innovative flies, that was Jack Gartside.
In this series of flies, this being the first I'll show you a few simple and easy to tie patterns. These flies can be effective on both cold and warm water fish. Most of the flies will be tied using only the feathers from a pheasant.
The flies below can be used as wet flies, streamers or nymphs. I tied these unweighted, although a few wraps of non-lead wire could be used in the body.
Pattern #1. all feathers are from a pheasant. The body except for the tinsel tag is from the tail of the pheasant.
Pattern #2 is all pheasant except for the peacock, and the squirrel tail wing.
Pattern #3, again all pheasant with exception of the peacock.
The beauty part of the ringneck pheasant is its cost. You can purchase a whole skin for about 20.00. That will give you a lot of flies, and a beautiful selection of feathers. I just saw this......Cabelas has ringneck pheasant skins for 13 bucks...
Alan - some nice patterns here indeed! I was recently given a ringneck skin from a hunter friend and was amazed at the diversity of feathers. Lots there for a soft-hackle lover! Treating the skin with dry borax does a nice job of drying and preserving the skin.
ReplyDeleteMark,
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They are indeed a treasure. One only needs imagination.
Did your friend give you any pheasant breasts? They are wonderful eating.
Those are killer Alan. Love #3. I use ringneck for streamers, good stuff.
ReplyDeleteApache Trout,
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John, I like that one also. They do make some great streamers.
Excellent patterns. I'll need to tie some up before the weather changes.
ReplyDeleteRKM,
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Kirk, Gartside knew what he was doing. Weather changes...when, when when.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteNumber two just screeches "fish on"!
Will
Hibernation,
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Will that's a favorite of mine also, then again they all are.
I agree, pheasants produce a wonderful assortment of feathers. I like to use the neck feathers on streamers.
ReplyDeleteRM Lytle,
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They also make wonderful soft hackle flies.
I agree with Hibernation on number 2...I'll take a dozen please ;)
ReplyDeleteMichael Curry,
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Mike that's three of us for pattern 2. Only a dozen......
Good Stuff Al!!!
ReplyDeleteTROUTI,
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Pete when do you think I'll be able to fish them?
Stop me if you heard this before. I asked an elderly friend of my father-in-law to save me the pheasant feathers when he went hunting. A few weeks later the post office delivered a box to my house. I opened the box and was overcome by the stench of rotting bird. After cutting out the meat, the friend boxed up the carcass and feathers and sent them to me. Watch what you ask for.
ReplyDeleteHoward Levett,
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Boy that must have been awful. Needless to say Howard you never used those feathers.
Brk Trt !! Any day now!!!! Well hopefully within the next few weeks!! Looks like some warner weather coming in this weekend and beyond!!
ReplyDeleteTROUTI,
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Pete I just checked the long range temps and it's starting to look good.
I'm with you Alan , lots of different uses for the feathers off of a ringneck pheasant. From soft hackles to nymphs and big streamers , the irridessence of a pheasant feather adds a nice touch to just about any pattern.
ReplyDeleteHighPlainsFlyFisher,
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Jeff, well suited to fly tying. They are pretty tough feathers also and can take some pounding.
Alan, I often say it doesn't get any better on a fly than Ringneck Pheasant, in one form or another, and Peacock. Many, many uses for sure. I like all the patterns you show here, but, am really fond of the second one. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMel,
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Mel it seems that most of us have liked pattern 2 the best.
Stream report to come soon...hopefully.
Alan
ReplyDeleteAll three patterns are exceptional, but my favorite is the pattern 3, with that streamer/wet fly look. Thanks for sharing
Bil Trussell,
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Bill nice observation. I will test it soon.
My Dad bagged a lot of pheasants back in the day..I'm sure he used them to tie his flies..we loved pheasant breast cooked in a pot of baked beans..
ReplyDeletepenbayman,
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Mike I'm sure you Dad was a good hunter. Jack Gartside said that the pheasant was #1 when it came to versatility.
There's nothing better than homemade baked beans, and you add pheasant breasts to it..Oh man.