THE PINK TADPOLE

Materials required:

• Long Shank  hooks sizes 12- 6

• Black 6/0 tying thread

• Body – Shocking Pink Chenille

• Under Body – lead wire – medium or fine

• Head – Peacock herl

• Tail – Shocking Pink Marabou

Tying:

1. Catch in the thread behind the eye and proceed down hook in touching turns to a point opposite the barb. Catch in lead wire behind the eye  and wind down shank to just ahead of point

2. Catch in a bunch of marabou opposite the barb to form the tail and also secure the chenille at this point making sure it buts up to the tail

3. Wind thread back up to behind the eye and then wind the chenille up towards the eye in touching turns. Stop short of the eye to allow for the head. Tie off the chenille

Take three strands of peacock herl and tie them in ahead of the chenille. Twist the strands to form a spiral and wrap around the hook three times between the chenille and the eye to form the head. Tie off.

4. This simple tadpole can be tied using any colour combination and in a number of different sizes. However we find that the shocking pink version tied on a long shank hook works extremely well in the winter months when the water tends to be extra clear. The colder the weather the better this fly is and if you keep having to scrape the ice from your rod rings then this is a fly that is very well suited to the conditions.

Fishing the Fly

We fish the shocking pink tadpole usually on intermediate or slow sinking lines and generally use a straight through leader of 6lbs clear mono or fluorocarbon of 6lb breaking strain. It is essential not to use dark leader materials when the water is so clear.

A normal slow strip retrieve works best but by late March trout tend to be willing to chase this particular fly at faster speeds.

Give it a try and we think you will find that shocking pink really is a winning colour especially for the winter months