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Stoat’s Tail fly pattern
Single hook · black-dyed squirrel wing · View the pattern reference ↗

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Salmon fly / Pattern notes

Stoat’s Tail

A black hairwing salmon fly with a golden crest tail, silver tag and rib, and black hackle.

A slim black-and-silver hairwing dressing for Atlantic salmon, finished with a curved golden tail.

At the vise
Intermediate
Common sizes
#6 · starting size
Flies for Salmon
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From hook to fly

At the vise.

5 illustrated steps

Work through the numbered steps in order. Use the written materials and proportions as your guide; select an image for a closer look.

  1. A black-threaded salmon single with a short silver tag near the bend; no tail or body.

    Build the silver tag

    Start a thread foundation, leaving room behind the eye. Secure tinsel at the rear; make a short band of close turns and tie it off.

    Bench note Keep the tag compact.

  2. Golden pheasant crest tied above the silver tag on an otherwise thread-covered hook.

    Set the golden tail

    Strip fluff from a crest feather. Secure its stem just ahead of the tag, with the golden tip curving upward behind the bend. Trim the butt.

  3. Smooth black floss body with spaced silver ribs, a silver tag and golden tail; no hackle or wing.

    Wrap the body and rib

    Attach a separate tinsel length at the rear. Cover the shank with smooth black floss, secure it, then wind the tinsel forward in spaced turns and tie off.

    Bench note Reserve front space for hackle and wing.

  4. A sparse rear-swept black hackle collar added in front of the ribbed body; no hair wing.

    Add the black collar

    Tie in a prepared black hackle near the front. Wind a few turns, keeping the fibers directed rearward. Secure the stem and remove the excess.

  5. Finished Stoat’s Tail with a sparse black hair wing over the silver-ribbed body and golden tail.

    Secure the wing and finish

    Clean a small bunch of black squirrel hair and bind it above the shank, pointing rearward. Trim the butts, form a compact head, whip finish and varnish.

    Bench note Leave the eye open.

Beyond the bench

On the water.

First Nature suggests this dark pattern for clear water. Adjust size and presentation depth to local conditions; ask the fishery about suitable tackle and permitted hooks.

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Recipe references

Original written instructions adapted from the sources below. Materials and methods may vary between versions.

Portrait reference

Pattern dressings vary; use the written recipe for exact materials and proportions.

John Gray — Tying a Stoat’s Tail ↗

For the same fly box.

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