The PTN was specifically designed to imitate the slender types of the Baetis family, also known as ‘Olives,’ but the PTN also covers the mobile nymphs, certain caddis species, and stone flies. They imitate an array of various insects and aquatic life and can be fished as suggestive patterns as well. These patterns slay fish, and for a good reason. When the word buggy is used, I immediately think of the PTN, the ZAK nymph, and the classic Wooley bugger. What makes the PTN such a great pattern? By looking at it, you can see that it is a pretty buggy-looking fly. Want to learn how to catch brown trout on a fly? Check out □ Complete Guide to Fly Fishing for Brown Trout Why the Pheasant Tail Nymph is Great This ALWAYS works and has yielded some of my best results.īelow we will go through the ins and outs of how to tie and fish the famous PTN. One of my favorite rigs is to fish an unweighted PTN under a CDC caddis and drift it over a slow tail out. Weighted and unweighted versions are deadly in the right situations. Referred to as the PTN by most, this pattern is a must in your fly box. This nymph catches fish in shallow, fast water or deep, slow pools. The beauty of this pattern is that it suggests many an insect and can be mistaken for most underwater critters that the trout would be feeding on. I avidly believe this pattern can turn your day around in any circumstance. This pattern has been around for over 50 years and is still one of my go-to fly patterns. Whether you started fly fishing 50 years ago or last week, the Pheasant Tail Nymph would have been in any kit or part of any recommended purchase. BOOM □, fish on! □ Our decision to give riffles a chance paid off.The Pheasant tail nymph is one of those fly patterns you would most definitely come across when starting out. We tied on two nymphs without an indicator (no indicator helps to keep the flies/leader/tippet in your control) and drifted them past the fish a few times. Keeping tension on the line will help you detect and react to quick strikes.īeing winter, the fish had been keying in on small midges. Independent of which type of rig you decide to go with (nymph, dry-dropper, etc.) use as little line as possible without getting too close and spooking the fish. As mentioned above, fish within riffles are used to food drifting by at a very fast pace. As soon as your flies hit the water, a fish can strike. Second, controlling your line is very important. Note the faster and shallower the riffles, the more likely fish will be to come up after a dry fly. Your flies need to be at or above eye level or they won't even be seen. So you've found a pod of big rainbow trout in some fast moving riffles, where do you start?įirst, we need to recognize that fish within riffles are eating food as it drifts by at a quick rate. an entire pod of big rainbow trout! All of them were grouped together in the fastest, shallowest part of the stream. within an area of riffles a fish's silhouette stood out. On our way to the next pool, something caught our eye. One winter one of our favorite streams here in Utah, we walked the banks looking for slow deep pools (where fish are usually found at lower water temperatures). We'll answer this question with a real life example. Do not overlook this water type the next time you go to the river! This can even include fisherman who pass by riffles because they don't, "see any fish."Īlthough the water is shallow and uninviting, it definitely holds fish. The broken surface water creates security from airborne predators □. Summary - fish will seek out higher oxygen levels (riffles!) as water temperatures increase. Thus, trout will generally be found in riffles more often during warmer months. Adequate oxygen levels are essential for both bug and fish survival. If a trout is holding in riffles, it's there to eat!Īs water temperatures rise ↑, the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water decreases ↓. In addition, the faster choppier water can easily dislodge hiding insects causing them to drift in the current. With more plant growth comes a larger population of plant eating aquatic insects a.k.a. ![]() More sunlight leads to more plant growth □. Because the water is shallow, it receives more sunlight ☀️.
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