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.