Fed’s Pheasant Tail Possum Emerger Variant
The Pheasant Tail Possum Emerger is an innovative fly pattern originally crafted by Jan Spencer, a two-time Australian national representative fly fisher. It imitates an emerging insect, a crucial stage in the aquatic insect life cycle when they rise from the water to the surface.
Fed’s Pheasant Tail Possum Emerger Variant brings subtle refinements, preserving the essence of Spencer’s creation while improving its performance. Whether you’re fishing calm rivers or slow-moving streams, this fly is a must-have for your collection.
The Basics: Pheasant Tail Nymph Tail and Body
Fed’s Pheasant Tail Possum Emerger Variant uses the same elements that made the Pheasant Tail Nymph one of the most dependable fly patterns of all time. The simplicity of the materials, combined with their natural appearance, has proven successful time and again for catching trout and other fish species. The slim, segmented body, combined with a delicate tail, accurately mimics aquatic insects.
The traditional Pheasant Tail Nymph is tied using:
- Tail:Pheasant tail fibres
- Abdomen:Pheasant tail fibres
- Ribbing:Fine copper wire
Fed’s variation enhances the emerger characteristics by using possum fur for the thorax and wing. This adjustment gives the fly a more lifelike, floating silhouette. As a result, the emerger’s appearance is more attractive to fish in the vulnerable stages of hatching.
- Cover the Hook with Thread
Start by securing your hook in the vise. Use a fly-tying thread and wrap it evenly from behind the eye to the bend of the hook. This creates a base for the rest of the materials. - Tie in the Copper Wire
On the far side of the hook (opposite where the thread is hanging), tie in a length of fine copper wire. Leave it trailing toward the back, as it will be used later to create the ribbing on the fly’s body. - Tie in the Pheasant Tail Fibres
At a point three thread wraps forward from the bend of the hook, secure a small bunch of pheasant tail fibers. These fibres will form the tail of the fly. The tips of the fibers should extend slightly past the bend of the hook to create a natural-looking tail. - Wrap the Thread Back to the Bend
After securing the pheasant tail fibres, wrap the thread backward towards the bend of the hook. This ensures the tail fibres are tied in firmly. - Fold the Pheasant Tail Fibres Over the Bend
Fold the remaining pheasant tail fibres back over the bend of the hook, tying them in securely. This will allow you to use the fibres to create the body of the fly. - Form the Body with Pheasant Tail Fibres
Wrap the pheasant tail fibres forward along the hook shank toward the 1/3 mark of the hook. This forms the abdomen of the fly. Once you reach the 1/3 point, secure the fibres with your thread and trim off the excess. - Reverse Wrap the Copper Wire
Take the copper wire you tied in earlier and wrap it in the opposite direction of the pheasant tail fibres. This creates ribbing along the body, adding segmentation and durability. Secure the wire with thread when you reach the end and trim off any excess. - Whip Finish
Complete the fly by whip-finishing the thread near the 1/3 point where the body ends. This knot secures everything in place. Trim off the thread. - Repeat for All Flies
If you’re tying multiple flies, finish all of them to this step before moving on to additional steps like adding the thorax, legs, or head.
Why Possum Fur?
Possum fur offers significant advantages over traditional materials. It’s naturally soft, buoyant, and has a slight shine, making the fly look more realistic. Fish, especially trout, find this appearance irresistible. Moreover, possum fur has excellent dubbing properties, ideal for creating a fluffy, natural thorax.
The buoyancy of possum fur makes it a great choice for emerger patterns. Emergers need to float just below or on the water’s surface, and the possum fur helps the fly stay in this crucial position. This slight change boosts your chances of success on the water.
How to Fish Fed’s Pheasant Tail Possum Emerger
The Pheasant Tail Possum Emerger works best in slow waters or when trout are rising during hatches. Trout feed eagerly on emergers since they are vulnerable while breaking through the water’s surface tension. You can fish this fly in various ways, such as part of a dry-dropper rig or as a single fly when trout are feeding near the surface.
When fishing an emerger, watch for subtle strikes. Trout often sip emergers gently, so stay alert for slight disturbances on the water or minor movements in your leader.
Materials
- Hook:Size 12 or 14 Dry Fly Hook
- Tail/Abdomen:Pheasant tail fibres
- Ribbing:Fine copper wire
- Thorax/Wing:Possum fur
Fed’s Fly Tying Tip
Note: Save any possum fur you trim during the tying process for future flies. Place the trimmings in a jar and grind them in a coffee grinder to create a soft, fine dubbing material. This DIY dubbing is both cost-effective and ideal for creating fluffy thoraxes and other parts of your flies.
Tying Instructions – Finishing the Fly
Start with the basic Pheasant Tail Nymph tail and body above.
- Reattach the Thread Behind the Eye
Reattach the thread behind the hook eye if you’ve already tied off after the body. Make sure it’s secure, but avoid building up too much bulk. - Prepare and Select Possum Fur
Select a small strip of possum fur about twice the width of the body. This fur will be used to form the wing and head of the fly. Trim the fur slightly longer than the hook shank to allow for proper wing length after folding.
- Tie in the Possum Fur Over the Hook Eye
Tie in the possum fur over the top of the hook, positioning it so it extends forward over the hook eye. This will become the wing.
Secure the fur with tight wraps, making sure it is centred on the top of the hook. - Trim the Butt Section of the Possum Fur
After securing the fur, trim the butt section (the excess at the front) at a sharp angle to create a neat taper. This helps reduce bulk and ensures a smooth transition when wrapping the thread backward.
- Wrap the Thread Back to the Eye
Now, wrap the thread back towards the hook eye to secure the base of the possum fur and cover the trimmed section. - Fold the Possum Fur Back Over the Body
Fold the remaining possum fur backward, over the body of the fly, to create a wing. Secure it behind the hook eye to form a small head. Make sure the wing sits neatly on top of the fly, extending over the body.
- Finish the Fly
Perform a half hitch and a double half hitch just behind the eye to secure the thread and complete the head.Use your thumbnail to roughly trim the wing material to the desired length—typically the length of the tail. This creates a more natural, uneven look to the wing.
