Frenchie
The Frenchie is a classic Pheasant Tail Nymph modified with a bright fluorescent hot spot — typically a hot pink or orange dubbing collar just behind the tungsten bead. The concept is simple: add a trigger point to an already proven pattern. It became famous in European competition fishing and is now one of the most popular Euro-nymphing patterns in North America. The hot spot can be pink, orange, yellow, or chartreuse depending on conditions.
- Type
- nymph (Mayfly)
- Hook sizes
- #12–18
- Target species
- trout
- Difficulty
- intermediate
- Best seasons
- spring, summer, fall, winter
Materials
- hook: Nymph hook #12–18
- thread: Copper wire or orange thread
- bead: Copper tungsten bead
- tail: Pheasant tail fibers
- body: Pheasant tail fibers wound forward
- ribbing: Fine copper wire
Tying steps
- Mount a size 12–18 hook; slide on a copper tungsten bead.
- Start copper wire thread at the bend; tie in pheasant tail fiber tail.
- Wind pheasant tail fibers forward to form the body to the 2/3 mark.
- Counter-wrap fine copper wire rib over the body in 5 spirals.
- Fold more pheasant tail over as a wing case and tie at the 2/3 mark.
- Dub a small hot spot of fluorescent pink or orange dubbing against the bead.
- Pull the wing case over the hot spot and tie down against the bead.
- Whip finish; the contrast between the brown body and hot spot is the key trigger.