The dark silhouette the Stoat's Tail fly creates works in crystal clear summer level water as well as the coloured water of spring. It's a good bet when the fish refuse the more gaudy patterns and during times of low water disinterested fish to tie one on and let it swing through.
There is some debate over the flies origins. In "Trout and Salmon Flies" by Sutherland and Chance it is listed as originating at Park on the river Dee in Scotland. In the "Encyclopaedia of Fly Fishing" by Conrad Voss Bark the Stoats tail is credited to James Wright of Sprouston-on-Tweed (Scotland) made during 1870-80's.
This black fly can be irresistible too salmon, Steelhead and sea trout in difficult summer conditions of high water temperature and low levels. It is also very popular in big clear water rivers. This fly will take both "stale" and "fresh" fish in all hook sizes and weather conditions. It is a good all-round fly and I have had the pleasure of hooking and landing a number of fish on this fly in Norway.
If you fish a pool without success, fish it down again with a different fly, or size of fly. Then try a different presentation, casting squarer across the pool, or moving the fly more slowly or more quickly than previously.
Return later in the day and back-up the pool instead of fishing it down. It often pays, too, when doing this last thing in the evening to put a large long winged fly and fish it quickly through the water as a last resort, skating across the top often brings up a fish that has been resting for the day.
When changing flies, anglers are often inclined to put on a different pattern or a similar sized fly to the one that has just been ignored i.e. a size 6 Munro killer replaced by a size 6 Stoats Tail for example, This sometimes works, however a more radical increase or decrease in size I have found is more productive, think different when stuck in a rut !
If all else fails layback on the bank and enjoy nature and all her surrounding the fish will come.
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