FLY OF THE MONTH JULY 2025

THE COVE PHEASANT TAIL NYMPH

HOOK: Size 8-12 long shank (size 10 used here)
THREAD: Brown 8/0
RIB: Copper wire
ABDOMEN: Cock pheasant tail fibres
THORAX: Wild rabbit underfur (tied as a prominent ball)
WING CASE: Cock pheasant tail fibres

As its name suggests, this pattern was designed by Arthur Cove as a fly to fish on the point of a long leader. The heavy hook and slim profile means it will sink quickly without the need for adding extra weight. In fact he tied them up to a size 8 long shank. It might be a bit tricky nowadays to find good enough quality pheasant tail feathers to achieve a fly this size. Most commercial patterns available seem to be tied on wet fly or grub hooks and the thorax dubbing is generally hare’s mask or hare’s lug. Fish this fly on a long leader off a floating or midge-tip line with one or two droppers with maybe a diawl bach, cruncher etc. If there is no sign of rising fish on a bright sunny day this set up will hopefully produce a fish or two.

Below: Modern tying of a Cove Nymph on a size 8 grub hook

On cloudy days when there may be a few fish rising, try a dry sedge. The G&H sedge, elk-hair sedge and various sedgehogs should all work. After casting out, allow your fly/flies to sit motionless for a few seconds. If a fish has seen them land on the water, it could take immediately. If there is no response after a while, a steady figure-of-eight retrieve across the surface may get some interest. In calm water it will help if your leader is sunk, use a good quality fluorocarbon to achieve this. The sinking leader may eventually pull the flies under, but they will still catch subsurface if you continue with the steady retrieve. Whether fishing dries or wets, if you have bank space, keep moving a pace or two between casts to cover plenty of water. Similarly in a boat, I would choose to drift rather than drop the anchor and stay in one place.
Other flies to try at this time of year are fry patterns, foam beetles, hoppers etc. Providing conditions are favourable, I will fish dry flies and emergers for most of the summer as this method seems to be the most reliable at Hallington.

Phil Bilbrough