Sweeney Todd

Rainbow trout · TroutDeep

Richard Walker's black reservoir lure with a signal-red fluorescent throat and magenta hackle — a sober body lit by one hot spot of colour. A staple stripped pattern that has caught stocked rainbows since the 1960s.

Fish this when

Searching reservoir water at any depth when fish want movement rather than imitation — a fast-sink line counted down, then a steady pull. Reliable on bright days and through coloured water.

Why it works

The fluorescent throat is a single trigger point against the black body, drawing the take to the hook end where the fish commits hard.

Naturals it imitates