Cormorant
Dark, sparse, palmered — the Cormorant sits in the water like something that belongs there. It catches trout on reservoirs all season long, often when more deliberate patterns get ignored.
Year-round on stillwaters. Especially good on a slow figure-of-eight retrieve just below the surface when fish are near the top but not rising confidently.
The dark palmered body breaks up in the water, suggesting a buzzer pupa or something small and alive. Sparse, natural, and easy to fish — trout don't need much convincing.
Starting points, not rules — depth, presentation and size usually matter more.
Use black, claret or dark peacock under cloud and deeper down. Try olive when fish are feeding naturally on nymphs. Pearl, green flash or a Traffic Light body can help in brighter water or when searching — reduce the flash if fish become pressured or start feeding selectively.