Cormorant

Sometimes rainbow trout want something that moves, but not something large. Then the Cormorant is one of the best flies you can have on. It is a slim, usually all-black lure with a pulsing marabou tail, considerably neater than a Woolly Bugger, and it fills the gap between the big searching fly and the still nymph.

A small lure with a large effect

The Cormorant’s strength is the combination of a small, discreet body and a lively tail. The black silhouette shows clearly against the surface from below, and the marabou breathes at the slightest movement so the fly looks alive even on a slow retrieve. Many patterns have a small trigger point, for example a touch of fluorescent green or orange at the tail, which gives the fish something to aim at. That makes it effective on fish that have followed larger flies without committing.

When it comes into its own

The Cormorant shines brightest when the fish are a little cautious but still willing to chase something small, often in clear water or when they have tired of larger streamers. It is also a smart in-between: less frightening than a big lure but more mobile than a nymph. If the fish have gone quiet on your usual patterns, dropping down to a small Cormorant is often what wakes them again.

How you fish it

Fish the Cormorant with a slow to medium retrieve, preferably with small, soft strips that get the tail pulsing. It works both on a sinking line, where you count down to the right depth, and hanging under a fly indicator. Let the marabou tail do the work instead of stripping hard, and vary the tempo until you find what the fish want. When it stops or nips, make a calm strike.

A given place in the box

Cormorant is a cheap, simple and versatile fly that deserves a place beside your streamers and nymphs. Black is the first choice, but keep a variant with a small trigger colour as well. More on the technique is under streamer fishing, and more patterns to switch between in flies for rainbow trout.