FLYMPH FORUM

Pheasant and Furnace
Hook - Mustad Model R50U-94842 / Size 16
Thread - 16/0 Veevus (Olive Dun/Color A05)
Hackle - Hen Neck (Natural Furnace/one side stripped)
Body/Tail - Three strands of Pheasant Tail Fibers (Natural)

(Step-by-Step Tutorial for Tying Micro Flymphs) by Ray (letumgo) Tucker
1) Mount hook in the vice
2) Attach tying thread with four or five secure wraps
3) Prepare a hen hackle feather by stripping off the fibers on one side (left side as it good side faces you)
4) Tye the feather onto the hook by it's steam. The feather should face out over the eye of the hook (stripped edge up)
5) Even the tips of three pieces of pheasant tail fibers and tye them in at the eye of the hook

This will bring you to this point in the process.


6) Hold the tips of the pheasant tail fibers and wind the tying thread back towards the bend of the hook. Go just slightly past the point of the hook.


7) Wind the butt ends of the pheasant tail fibers back towards the waiting thread. Be sure to wind the pheasant tail fibers in the same way that you did the tying thread. If your thread wraps were over the hook shank, and away from you, then the pheasant tail should be wrapped in the same manner. You will see why in a minute.


8) Secure with one wrap of thread and clip off the BUTT ends of the pheasant tail fibers. Leave the tips for the tail.

9) Wrap your tying thread forward in open spirals, to the middle of the hook shank. The by wrapping forward over the pheasant tail fibers, they are being reinforced by the thread wraps (counter wrapping crosses over and creates a durable body without the need for a tinsle or wire rib).


10) Make two turns of hackle behind the eye of the hook, then wrap the hackle back to the tying thread in three open spiral wraps. Secure the hackle stem with one or two turns of thread, then clip off the excess hackle tip. Wind the thread forward to the eye of the hook, again in open spiral wraps. The hackle stem will be reinforced by the counter thread wraps.


11) Draw the hackle fibers back with the fingers of your left hand, and form a three turn whip finish.


DONE!

Once you get the hang of this method, you can tye these in a few minutes. They are easy to tye and can be scaled down to smaller sizes (18's and 20's) if needed.

Very well done Ray. Great tutorial, and makes a lot of sense. Not a lot of wasted movements.
How are you liking the Veevus 16/0 ? I have a half dozen colors in the 14/0, and have found it great for the micro patterns. Is the 16/0 that much better that I should give it a try?

So far I am liking the Veevus 16. It seems very strong for it's size. I was putting decent tension on the thread and did not have any problems with breakage (knock on wood). I have tyed with the Veevus 14, but not enough to notice a difference between the 14 and 16. Seems like nice thread.

Thank you for this one. I really like it.

You are very welcome Rolfj. I am glad you liked the tutorial. I hope you give these a try..

Nice tutorial Ray.

Thanks Eric.

A+

Beautiful fly and tutorial. This has been a very effective fly on some MT tailwaters.

Regards,
Scott

That's awesome. I love the pattern and the procedure is excellent. I usually tie in a rib to the bend, and tie in the tails for a herl body softie, bring the herl up to the hackle, bring the rib up and tie it off...as do most everyone I assumed. But this procedure, using the tying thread to rib the herl is a nice looking technique. Way to turn things around. Great little series.