Dan Delekta’s beadhead nymph combines a pheasant-tail abdomen, peacock thorax, flash wingcase and soft CDC collar.
The Lil’ Spanker is Dan Delekta’s named nymph. This beadhead pheasant-tail version follows InTheRiffle’s published material list and tying video: Tiemco 3769 hook, brass bead, tan UTC 70, wood-duck tail, pheasant-tail abdomen, copper rib, peacock thorax, pearl Krystal Flash wingcase and legs, and natural CDC collar. Beartooth’s maker catalog lists Pheasant Tail within the Lil’ Spanker colorways.
Work through the numbered steps in order, using the materials list and written proportions as your guide.
01
Fit the bead and tail
Slide a brass bead to the eye, start tan thread behind it and carry the thread to the bend. Tie in a sparse wood-duck tail with its tips projecting just past the bend.
Bench note Use a small, aligned bunch so the nymph retains a slim profile.
02
Build the pheasant abdomen
Secure fine copper wire at the tail base, tie in several pheasant-tail fibers and wrap them forward into a narrow abdomen, leaving front room for the thorax.
Bench note Bind the fiber bases smoothly so the abdomen does not develop a step.
03
Rib against the fibers
Wind the copper wire forward in open turns over the pheasant tail, moving opposite the direction of the abdomen wraps. Secure and trim the wire at the front.
Bench note The counter-wrapped wire adds visible segmentation and protects the fragile fibers.
04
Add flash and peacock
Tie a small pearl Krystal Flash bundle on top at the abdomen front with its working length pointing rearward. Attach and wind peacock herl into a compact thorax behind the bead.
Bench note Reserve space ahead of the thorax for the flash tie-down and CDC collar.
05
Form wingcase and legs
Bring the flash forward over the peacock, secure it near the bead, then split its remaining fibers and bind a short group rearward along each side as legs.
Bench note Center the shiny wingcase and keep the side legs sparse.
06
Wind a soft CDC collar
Tie in a natural CDC feather, wind a sparse collar just behind the bead, sweep the fibers rearward and whip finish a small head.
Bench note Do not trap the fine CDC fibers under the finishing knot.
Beyond the bench
On the water.
Fish this beaded nymph in subsurface trout lanes, including quicker water where its flash and moving CDC can remain visible. Set depth with the rig rather than relying on the bead alone.
