Beginner’s Fly Tying Class: Dec. 17, 2018

By Don Fine

Pheasant Tail Nymph

The Beginner’s Fly Tying session will be held on Monday, December 17th. Don Fine will lead the tying session that evening. That evening we will be tying one of the classic nymph patterns; the “Pheasant Tail Nymph” (aka PTN). The classic PTN was first designed by British Riverkeeper Frank Sawyer, who twisted wire and Pheasant tail fibers around one another and wrapped them forward together forming the abdomen and thorax.

Because it closely resembles the nymph stage of a number of mayfly species, the PTN is a pattern which most fly fishers would agree is an essential nymph pattern to carry whenever fishing for trout.

On December 17th, Don will give a short overview on the history and evolution of this pattern and then 1 we will tie the PTN in much the same classic style as Mr. Sawyer, but with more contemporary tying materials. As in past months the Beginner’s fly tying will be held in room 207 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 703 West Patrick Street, Frederick.

Note: if you haven’t read Frank Sawyer’s book called, “Frank Sawyer Keeper of the Stream”, you are missing a fantastic biography of the life and times of a few gentlemen whose responsibility was to keep the Avon River, a ‘chalk’ stream of the British Isles in top condition for the wealthy flyfishers, who owned these waters, and their fortunate guests.