Hot Spot Pheasant Tail

The Hot Spot Pheasant Tail takes Frank Sawyer's legendary pattern and adds a fluorescent dubbing collar — pink, orange, or yellow — just behind the bead as a strike trigger. This simple modification transforms an already effective nymph into one of the most productive Euro-nymphing patterns ever fished. The hot spot draws attention and triggers strikes from fish that might otherwise ignore a plain PTN. Essential on any European competition-style rig.

Type

nymph (Mayfly)

Hook sizes

#12–18

Target species

trout

Difficulty

beginner

Best seasons

spring, summer, fall, winter

Materials

• hook: Nymph hook #12–18
• thread: Copper wire or brown thread
• bead: Copper tungsten bead
• tail: Pheasant tail fibers
• body: Pheasant tail wound forward
• ribbing: Fine copper wire

Tying steps

1. Slide a copper tungsten bead onto a size 12–18 nymph hook.
2. Start copper wire thread at the bend; tie in pheasant tail fiber tail.
3. Wind pheasant tail fibers forward as the body to the 2/3 mark.
4. Counter-wrap fine copper wire rib in 5–6 spirals over the body.
5. Fold more pheasant tail over as the wing case to the 2/3 mark.
6. Dub a small bright pink, orange, or yellow hot spot collar against the bead.
7. Pull the wing case forward over the hot spot and secure against the bead.
8. Whip finish and cement.