When I first began fly fishing, I was introduced to a streamer that has kept with me for many years: the Squirrel Tail. This pattern was the first that I learned to tie, as well as the first that I learned to cast. Furthermore, this pattern has caught not only my first fish, but the majority of all the fish I have caught also.

So much to be said for a fly that can be tied from nothing more than the tinsel on your Christmas tree, the road kill you passed on your way home from work, and any old hook and thread.

This streamer is a ‘must-have’ for all fishermen of all ages and skill levels. My father taught me to tie the fly when I was about 12 years old. At that time he was just starting to teach me how to roll cast. Even with my poor imitation, that looked more like road kill than a minnow, paired with my poor excuse for a barrel roll cast, I still managed to catch trout. From that point on, the Squirrel Tail has remained a prized favorite, and still continues to produce trophy trout.

When casting the Squirrel Tail streamer, fishermen tend to use the roll cast, or barrel roll, to present their fly. The roll cast is a very basic form of casting that usually is taught very early on to new casters due to its simplicity and use of casting fundamentals, such as loading a rod, and laying out line.

Because the Squirrel Tail is a minnow interpretation, it is very effective if fished along the shallows along the edges of streams or rivers. The Squirrel Tail tends to also catch many fish along edges of rapid areas, both on the upstream and downstream sides. Fish tend to gather in these areas due to the high oxygen content in the waters that result from the natural aeration that occurs because of the disturbance in the current. The Squirrel Tail is sure to catch the attention of any fish looking for a good snack.

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