The Bead Head CDC PTN (proper full name Tungsten Bead Head CDC Flashback Pheasant Tail) was developed by Randall Kauffman. If tied with a tungsten bead, which is 2x heavier than lead, this fly can get down deep – and quickly at that! The CDC feather collar is a bit of a mystery to most tyers, as it is normally associated with dry fly patterns rather than heavily weighted nymphs. However, it collects air bubbles, causing this pattern to pulsate and “swim”, adding layers of life-like motion.

Materials

• Size 16 nymph hook (2x if you have them)
• Copper wire
• Pheasant tail
• Peacock herl
• CDC
• Red tungsten bead

Tying Instructions

1. Put bead on the hook.
2. Tie in the copper wire starting at the bead.
3. Cut 8 to 10 pheasant tail fibres.
4. Tie the fibres as the tail about the length of the hook shank.
5. Advance the thread about two or three turn in front of the tail in point.
6. Fold the fibres back over tail and tie them in at the same point as the tail.
7. This prevents the tail from turning when you wrap the body.
8. Advance the thread to just behind the eye.
9. Wrap the fibres up to the just behind the bead and tie them off and trim.
10. Counter wrap the copper wire to form the ribbing. Tie it off and trim.
11. Trim the tip off of one piece of peacock herl and tie it in by the tip end.
12. Wrap the herl to create a thorax and tie it off,
13. Spread the fronds of the CDC and tie it in by the tip.
14. Wrap two or three turns to create a good size hackle and tie it off.
15. Whip finish.
16. Fold the CDC back towards the tail and pinch off (don’t cut) any frond longer than the tail.