PTN - complete novice, help please

[richardlongley]

I want to tie some very small, heavily weighted PTN for small river/brook fishing.

I have had a go, using a copper wire based pattern, so now I woul dappreciate some help and tips to make it fishable.

In particular, I find it difficult to keep the PT fibres straight at the back, they always seem to fall behind the side of the hook after I secure them.
Also, can I build the thorax up a little moore, to add more weight?
Finally, I dont have a fiishing tool, is it daft to try this without one, or will my method of open tie and varnish work?

Hook is a size 18, comments on my choice there please (its the only barbless they had anywhere near suitable)
Nothing other than copper wire and PT fibres.


Please dont be polite, criticism will be welcomed, I have posted this so that I can find out what I am doing wrong !

Pic:

[darwin]

Hi Richard,
First off start your pheasant tail on the other side and the wire will pull it over a bit. A bit of practice and you will be solid. You can whip finish the wire with your fingers if you don't have the tool. Here is a good video that may help.

YouTube - Tying a Pheasant Tail Nymph by Davie McPhail

YouTube - Tying a Pheasant Tail Nymph by Davie McPhail

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by richardlongley

Please dont be polite, criticism will be welcomed...

I've seen my cat puke up more attractive looking things Only kidding mate... I don't have a cat.

Your fly is a fine effort Richard, and emminently fishable. You might want to try and slim it down though, and give it a more streamlined feel. The tail is wee bit long too. Have a look around (books, mags, web etc) for a good example and try to copy it. No substitute for simply trying, trying and trying again. You might want to try and perfect it on a 14 or even a 12 first, then when you know exactly what you are doing scale it down. The 12's and 14's will be just as useful and catch you just as many fish as the 18's and 16's.

[richardlongley]

Thanks for the comments.

that vid link is the one I found.


Interesting you suggest slimming it down, I was anting to build it up! I must say it looks much slimmer in real life, being a size 18 it looks tiny to me, the camera makes it look a lot bigger.


I have tried a couple on size 14's, but I didnt like the hooks.


I will try a few more.


Thanks again

[richardlongley]

I tied a few more, and they certainly look better. My only real concern is that I might not be getting enough weight into the fly. They will be fished in very small waters, where you need to be fishing as soon as your fly hits the water.

Tieing the PT on is a lot easier now, I remember doing something similar before, the trick clearly is to fasten the FT on the near side, and it ends up on top!

Thanks again.

[wingman]

Originally Posted by Scratch

I've seen my cat puke up more attractive looking things Only kidding mate... I don't have a cat.

Your fly is a fine effort Richard, and emminently fishable. You might want to try and slim it down though, and give it a more streamlined feel. The tail is wee bit long too. Have a look around (books, mags, web etc) for a good example and try to copy it. No substitute for simply trying, trying and trying again. You might want to try and perfect it on a 14 or even a 12 first, then when you know exactly what you are doing scale it down. The 12's and 14's will be just as useful and catch you just as many fish as the 18's and 16's.

Got to agree with rob with useing larger hooks, 18's are way too small if your'e just in the early stages of learning to tie. But saying that, you have the basic ideas there on which to work on and its not a bad attempt for such a small hook.

[darwin]

Try the Kamasan B175 (10, is on the large sieze. 12 & 14) if you want a heavier hook, or use a split shot up the leader to help. If you go too heavy you might take the 'life' out of the fly. Test a few variations until your happy with the fly.
Best of luck to you

[flytire]

excellent tutorial here

Charlie's FlyBox - Colorado's Best FlyShop and online Fly Tying Tutorials

[JCP]

Google up Sawyer Pheasant Tail Nymph which will show video of Frank Sawyer tying one then follow Utube based Davie McPhail advice and step by step.

Best JP

[marks]

As said start on 14's and work your way down the sizes. I don't river fish a lot but don't go below 16's as a rule. Never needed to.

What I could suggest is for the tail you may want to try some hackle fibres as opposed to the PT. OK, stops the fly being a full on PTN but keeps things slim. Body and thorax PT as normal. For depth add tungsten bead. Plain or coloured.

Cheers,
Mark