About the Morgan's Pheasant Tail Trout Fly

This version of an old established favourite has a few extras that certainly has produced results. The mode of dressing has made this very robust. One fly caught ten trout before wear-and-tear took effect. The profile is more insect-like with the individual wing case, while a mother-of-pearl tag and the addition of two fibres of copper twinkle adds a distinctiveness without becoming garish. Fished as a point fly when sedge are hatching it has been outstanding. However throughout the day it has had considerable success as a general purpose nymph.

Expert Tip:

Creator of this trout fly: Trevor Morgan

Tier of this trout fly: Trevor Morgan

Country of origin for this trout fly: England

Dressings

• Hook : 10 - 12
• Tag : Mother-of-pearl lurex
• Tail : Four fibres cock pheasant tail and two fibres copper twinkle
• Body : Three fibres cock pheasant tail
• Wing cases : Six fibres claret pheasant tail
• Thorax : Dubbing of fox squirrel, the guard hairs giving the essential buggy effect
• Rib : Copper wire

The technique involves tying in the tail-piece, the three fibres of cock pheasant tail, copper wire and running the silk up to the thorax position. The fox squirrel dubbing is wound and secured, leaving the silk at the rear of the thorax position. Black silk is tied next to the eye of the hook and claret pheasant tail is secured halfway along the bunch of six fibres, the thicker parts pointing over the eye. The finer points aresecured at the rear of the thorax, the surplus brought back over to the eye, given two turns and then the whole brought back over and tied down at the rear of the thorax. This is done to give a double thickness and adds extra profile to the wing case. It is advisable to keep the fibres under nominal tension to reduce bulk. The body is now wound up to the wing cases and slightly over them.