Originally conceived and tied by Frank Sawyer MBE, an English River Keeper, the Pheasant Tail Nymph (often abbreviated to simply PTN) is one of the oldest of modern nymphs. Frank devised the pattern for use on the chalk streams of Southern England. He designed this nymph to imitate several species of the Baetis family, generally referred to as the 'olives'; it quickly became world famous.

Frank’s Pheasant Tail suggests many of the skinny nymphs that flourish in various habitats, exciting riffles to alluring deep holes in the rivers bed of chalk streams or spring creeks; and in still waters of all sizes.