Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail - Soft Hackle. The Pheasant Tail Soft Hackle can be used on both lakes and rivers as it imitates a wide range of aquatic life. It can produce great results imitating emerging mayflies, or caddis flies. The Pheasant Tail Soft Hackle is a variant of the ever popular Pheasant Tail imitation and thus is a must for all serious anglers. Fish this fly on lakes or rivers, especially rivers like the Mackenzie river or the Grand River.