hey guys,
what pattern do you guys suggest for stone flies? im looking for a quick tie that looks decent… for some reason i have the hardest time with these buggers, and of coarse, i just got a order for a bunch…
here is a poor picture of the best attempt ive had so far, and yes, 10 minutes after hitting the water, it resides in a tree.
any suggestions?
thanks,
spoof
If you’re just talking nymphs the North Fork Special has worked pretty well for me:
Stuff like the Pickle/Rubberlegs series are very effective, too, and easy to tie so you don’t cry so much when you break them off fishing down amongst the rocks; Brooks Stone, as well.
If you’re talking dries, I had real good luck a few weeks ago with various bullethead patterns for the skwala hatch:
Regards,
Scott
My favorite Stone Nymph
http://www.charliesflyboxinc.com/flybox/details.cfm?parentID=28
Pat’s rubber legs for the larger size 6 stone fly nymphs
http://www.charliesflyboxinc.com/flybox/print.cfm?parentID=178
and wired stone for size 10 to 14 stones , change the wire colors to match your stones http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw2/080403fotw.php
This one has been very good to us this spring…
Stoneflies out here in the Intermountain West and Northern Rockies range from about size 20 to size 2, or thereabouts and some patterns are good for the little ones and other patterns are good for the big ones.
What size natural are you looking to represent ??
With that information, I mght have a suggestion or two.
John
You could go old-school. Bird’s Stonefly Nymph.
Sweet fly, very nicely tied.
Regards,
Scott
Barr’s Tungstone in various sizes and colors.
biot abdomen stonefly in small sizes works well
14-18… the one in attached to my cork was a 16
I see nothing wrong with the flies on your rod handle. In fact I like them!
apparently the tree liked it too… that was the first stone ive tied that i was proud of… for some reason i always have trouble with stones, and i dont understand why, i can tie similar flies with my eyes closed… just wish i took better pictures of it before going out…
if my memory serves me correctly…
size 16 nymph hook
black goose biots for the tail and legs
small black wire for the body
black hairline dubbin for the thorax
the wing case is pheasant tail fibers,you guessed it, dyed black
thread is again, black
and the bead head was gold… so i colored it black… surprise surprise!
i cant remember if i wrapped the hook with lead or not… i think i did, that thing had some weight to it!
The one you tied looks excellent, in my opinion.
thanks for the compliment, personally i think every pattern thus far is exceptionally tied… as soon as i get off i think im going to tie a few up, heck, i might as well do a SBS on it lol
my problem is i spend too much time on the flies for myself, and i cant justify filling an order with time spent on each one… people come into the shop asking for a specific fly, i spin 10 up, and 9 sit there for a long time… i guess thats what i get for having my flies in bait shop, not a fly shop!
