Half Stone Fly

[Donald Nicolson]

The Half Stone is a very old fly, but the oldest info at a rather
cursory check is Halford's dry fly (1885) -


Note he had no tail, which is odd for a dry.

Next is Roger Woolley (1932), who was tying to order.
He listed the Half Stone twice -
1st as a dry dun with a tail

2nd as a West Country wet without.

Leisenring (1941) gave it a hen hackle but no tail.
He did call it the Half Stone Nymph.

Courtney Williams (194 gives it with a tail and a cock hackle.

Lawrie in 'English & Welsh Trout Flies' 1967, gives no tail.
- in 'Modern Trout Flies ' 1972, he gives a tail.

John Roberts in his Dictionary (1986) gives it a tail.

So, basically, the modern convention seems to be,
as a dry with cock hackle and tail.
As a wet both options. tail no tail, cock or hen hackle.
Actually only Leisenring used a hen hackle.
Also colour hackle, blue dun or honey dun, whatever
you fancy.
Wet without a tail is quite a good caddis pupa.
It is a very underrated and easily dressed fly.

[David L]

Donald,

I am with REE on this one. I will have some in Lowell with me next week.

I think I will do some on size 12s to try and keep up with the large October Caddis.

Thanks.

[Donald Nicolson]

One of the interesting features of the Halh Stone is the yellow
silk body. It is a clue to the antiquity of the fly.
In the 17th, 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, probably the most commonly available silk was yellow buttonhole twist.
Just before the second world war, Leisenring noted in his book, that buttonhole twist was commonly available in rural stores in the USA.
In Tod's book 'Wet Fly Fishing'. Mark Aitken gave yellow silk for nine of his eleven Tweed flies. The Greenwell's Glory ( a traditional Tweed Fly hijacked by Greenwell) is typical.
One fly from the West of England and the other from the river Tweed. The yellow silk was the one pinched from the wife of the working men who were the majority of the fly fishers before
the coming of the railways in the 1840s made cheap and fast access to the rivers available to townies.
Got me on another rant there.

[David L]

Donald,

When the yellow silk get wet does it change color? If so to what?

[JeffHamm]

Nice bit of history and coverage Donald. thank you.

- Jeff

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Donald,

Like Jeff, I really enjoy the history behind these wonderful old flies. The fact that they are still very effective makes me wonder why people keep reinventing the wheel. Maybe it's to make use of the newest and greatest material available. Thanks for the rant, also interesting.

REE