The Pheasant Tail Red Neck Copper Tungsten Bead nymph is a modern take on one of the most popular naiad patterns ever tied. Built on the classic pheasant tail profile, this version adds a copper tungsten bead to get the fly down quickly, along with a subtle red collar that gives a small hotspot without overpowering the natural look.
It’s a go-to pattern when trout and grayling are feeding close to the bottom, particularly in colder water, faster flows, or early-season conditions. The slim body and natural fibres suggest a wide range of aquatic nymphs, while the extra weight helps keep the fly in the taking zone for longer. Whether you’re working a deep run or picking apart pocket water, it’s a reliable nymph that earns its place in any fly box.
Please note all of our fishing flies are barbless unless otherwise stated.
Pheasant Tail Red Neck Copper Tungsten Bead Nymph Specification
Target Species - Trout / Sea Trout
Tail - Cock Grizzle
Body - Pheasant Tail
Rib - Copper Wire
Thorax - Hares Ear
Head - Copper Coloured Tungsten Bead
Hook - Barbless, Mustad of Norway
How To Fish the Pheasant Tail Red Neck Copper Tungsten Bead Nymph
Upstream Nymphing
Fish the fly upstream or slightly up-and-across and allow it time to sink before it reaches the main flow. Keep a light but direct connection to the fly and be ready for takes that often show as a hesitation or tightening of the line.
Czech Nymphing Presentation
The Pheasant Tail Red Neck Tungsten Nymph is highly effective when fished using a Czech nymphing approach. In faster currents and shallow riffles, fish the fly at close range with a long leader and minimal fly line beyond the rod tip. Allow the tungsten bead to carry the nymph quickly down to the riverbed, keeping direct contact throughout the drift. Guide the fly through the run by leading it slightly downstream with a raised rod tip, ensuring it stays in the strike zone while maintaining maximum sensitivity for quick, subtle takes.
Two-Fly “Klink and Dink” / New Zealand Style
This tungsten nymph works very well as the weighted dropper beneath a buoyant dry fly in a classic Klink and Dink or New Zealand style setup. Tie a visible dry to the point and suspend the Pheasant Tail Red Neck below it to cover both the surface and subsurface at the same time. The dry acts as both an indicator and an imitation, while the tungsten bead keeps the nymph fishing effectively in the subsurface.
