Dark Stonefly Nymph By Robert Williamson
. . .The overhand knot weave as performed by most tiers involves
tying in two colors of material along the hook shank. A dark-color
material for the back and a light color for the belly. After the
material is secured to the hook shank, the tying thread is removed
after tying a whip knot or a couple of half-hitches. An overhand
knot is then formed out in front of the hook eye and the pushed over
the eye with the dark color on top, light color on bottom. This
knot is pushed into place and then cinched down snug. The process
is repeated until the desired-length body is formed.
. . .If you like to try techniques that require a little dexterity,
give the following pattern a try.
Hand and Finger Movements for the Overhand Knot Weave
Step 1: Tie in the material for the body. This can be
yarn, embroidery yarn, Larva Lace or any other material suitable
for weaving a body. Larva Lace is easier to work with when learning
this technique; it is smooth and doesn’t fray like yarn-type materials.
Choose a dark-colored material for the back and a light-colored material
for the belly. Tie the material in on each side of the hook shank.
Bind the material down toward the bend of the hook. For these instructions
tie the dark material on the far side of the hook shank and the light
material on the side of the hook shank closest to you.
Step 2: Turn the vise toward you and lower it a little. You
want to be able to look down on the top of the hook shank so you can
watch the weave as it progresses.
Step 3: Begin the weave by taking the light-colored material
with your left hand and passing it under the shank forming a loop
in the material. This is held in place with the middle finger of
the left hand, leaving the thumb and index finger of the left
hand free.
Step 4: Take the dark-colored material with the right
hand and pass it over the hook shank and down through the loop
formed by the light-colored material. This will form a loop
in the dark-colored material.
Step 5: Reach through the loop of dark-colored material with
the thumb and index finger of the right hand and grab the light-colored
material; at the same time grab the dark-colored material with the
left-hand thumb and index finger. Simultaneously pull the materials
away from the hook shank in opposite directions to form a knot
around the hook shank. Make sure the knot is nice and snug.
Step 6: Continue this process until you reach the desired
body length. The dark-and light-colored materials will changed sides
of the hook with each new knot.Be sure to take the light-colored
material UNDER the shank and the dark-colored material OVER the
shank to get the desired look.
Step 7: When you get the desired body length, pull both
colors forward and bind them down. Clip off the excess material.
You now have a woven body.
Materials List:
Hook: Tiemco 200R, Size 4, 6.
Thread: Black.
Tail: Black rubber leg material.
Abdomen: Black and orange Larva Lace.
Thorax: Multi-colored synthetic dubbing; heavy on gray.
Wingcase: Lacquered pheasant rump feather.
Legs: Black rubber leg material.
Antennae: Black rubber leg material.
As with many of the flyfishers and fly-tiers in the West, I’m
facinated with the large stoneflies. The species Pteronarcys
californica has been particularly interesting. I was in
my early twenties when I found out that this large nymph was
found in one of the smaller rivers I consistently fished. This
surprised me a bit, because I knew the nymphs were found in many
large western rivers but was unaware that they could be found in the
smaller rivers and streams too. I began to experiment with different
stonefly nymph patterns and eventually settled on this woven-body
style.
I make no claims that this stonefly nymph will catch more trout
than other patterns out there. I like the way it looks and it
catches its share of fish. In the larger sizes it works well
before, during, and right after a salmonfly hatch.
This pattern catches the silhouette of the natural. The Antron
thorax catches and carries air bubbles like the gill tufts on the
natural. The rubber leg material give it some lifelike movement
as it tumbles around in the currents. The Larva Lace woven-body gives
it a sheen and segmentation that is attractive.
Tying Instructions:
- Tie in a tail of black rubber leg material. This is easily
done by cutting a two-inch piece and folding it in half. Bind
the doubled-up part on top of the hook shank, near the bend of
the hook. Maneuver it into position, forming a split tail.
- Tie in an eight-inch piece of black Larva Lace on the far
side of the shank. Tie this down to where the tail begins. Tie in
a piec of orange Larva Lace on the near side of the shank, and tie
it down to where the tail begins.
- Turn the vise toward you and begin to perform the
overhand weaving technique found above. Weave the body
to slightly forward of the middle of the shank.
- Pull both colors of the Larva Lace forward, bind the
down and trim excess.
- Tie in a lacquered pheasant rump feather where the body
ends. Tie this in with the dull side facing up. This
will be used to form the wingcase.
- Tie in two pieces of black rubber leg material to form the
legs, one on each side of the shank.
- Dub a thick thorax. Wind the dubbing behind, between, and in
front of the rubber legs. Be sure to leave a little room behind
the eye of the hook.
- Pull the pheasant feather forward over the dubbing to form
the wingcase. Tie this down behind the eye of the hook. Clip
off excess.
- Tie in two more pieces of black rubber leg material, one on
each side of the hook. This will make the last set of legs
and antennae.
- Whip finish. Trim the legs, tails and antennae to size.
Pick out the dubbing and trim it, if necessary, to give it a
buggy look. Completed Dark Stone Nymph.
~ Robert Williamson
Credits: The Dark Stone Nymph is one of the many excellent
instructional flies presented in Robert Williamson’s book,
Creative Flies - Innovative Tying Techniques, published by
Frank Amato Publications.
Originally published September 30, 2002 on Fly Anglers Online by Robert Williamson.