Beadhead Soft-Hackle Pheasant Tail

Matt Grobert and Tightline Productions team up to demonstrate how to tie a beadhead soft-hackle pheasant tail in this fly tying video tutorial.

Beadhead Soft-Hackle Pheasant Tail Tying Tips

Narrator Tim Flager provides some handy tips for tying a beadhead soft-hackle pheasant tail such as using the ribbing wire to tie in the pheasant tail after wrapping the abdomen. I also learn something new about Peacock herl, that is there are two-sides.

If you can’t tell which is the “stem-side” just try tying it in one way and they flip it over and try again. You’ll notice the difference. When the “stem-side” is tied in facing you the herl will stand out a bit more.

This is important on this soft-hackle pattern as it helps flare out the soft hackle that in turn helps create a pulsing action when fished. You can test this out in a tank of water if you’d like to see for yourself.

Winter Fishing Soft-Hackles

I often pair a soft-hackle with a larger wooly bugger in the winter, fishing them first on a dead drift and then on the swing. Often the larger wooly bugger will get a fishes attention and but if for some reason they change their mind they might end up settling for the smaller soft-hackle.

When the water is cold I’ll fishing them in tandem so both flies are at the same depth and as deep as possible. A slow retrieve works best under these conditions to provide sluggish fish a chance to respond.

If it happens be a warmer winter day and there is some bug activity, even if it is just midges, I’ll fish the soft-hackle on dropper above the wooly bugger so it rides higher in the water column.

In this case I prefer a soft-hackle tied without a bead to allow a bit more movement. Anyway you fish it, a soft-hackle pheasant tail is hard to beat.