The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning

The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning

Nymph

D-Rib Stonefly

Insect Species Icon Skwala Stone, Golden Stonefly, Green Stone and 1 others
Difficulty Icon Easy - 3-5 Min
Water Category Icon Coldwater

Tying Video

Become a Member

Sign up for full access to the Learning Center
and all the FlyBrary Content.
Tying Recipe
  • Hook: Natural bend 2x long 2x wide nymph hook size #14
  • Bead: Tungsten bead 3mm copper
  • Thread: UTC 70 denier olive
  • Antenna: Krystal flash black
  • Tail: Krystal flash black
  • Body: Vinyl rib midge olive
  • Thorax: SLF natural squirrel dubbing natural fox
  • Legs: Krystal flash black
  • Wing pads: Thin skin gator tan/black
  • Hook: Any longer shanked nymph hook will work fine. Stonefly nymphs tend to be a little bit longer, but try not to go over 3x long unless making extremely large imitations.
  • Bead: Tungsten or brass bead will work fine with this depending on the water you are fishing.
  • Thread: Any thin diameter thread will work. 8/0 or 70 denier seems to be the sweet spot of strength and thinness for this fly, as the thread needs to be stronger to tie the vinyl rib in. Use the same color of thread as the body of the fly.
  • Antenna: For a fly that will wiggle and move a bit more in the water, try using small round rubber legs.
  • Tail: For a fly that will wiggle and move a bit more in the water, try using small round rubber legs.
  • Body: For a more natural fly, with the same ribbing effect, you can use turkey biots, but be sure to use either some glue or wire for strength.
  • Thorax: Use any dubbing that you like with any color that will give you the exact but that you want to match!
  • Legs: For a fly that will wiggle and move a bit more in the water, try using small round rubber legs.
  • Wing pads: For a natural material that will give the same effect, try turkey quills.

This fly doesn’t have much going for it, which makes it a great clear water pattern for more selective trout. If you want a bushier fly, try adding some turns of partridge in between the wing pads for even more leg action on the fly. This will create a soft hackle effect which will push some more water and create more of an impression in the column. Feel free to add rubber legs for more movement and attraction for antennae, tails, or legs.

This is a great stonefly imitation for clear water conditions, since it is a bit more realistic than other stonefly nymph patterns out there. The slimmer body with the vinyl rib will help get this fly down to the bottom of the river where the nymphs are. As well as the krystal flash legs also won’t hold the fly up as rubber legs will, so give this fly plenty of line to sink to the bottom.

This is a fairly versatile fly that can be fished either under an indicator or under a dry fly during large hatches. Try to get the best dead drift on this fly, as these nymphs don’t swim, and instead use their claws to climb around the river bottom and out on the shore to hatch. During larger hatches, focus on deep water right beside the bank, where the nymphs are going to be trying to exit the stream and may get swept into the current. This fly is best fished right at the bottom of the river, so give this plenty of room and weight to get down there quick.

Golden Stonefly

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West
Golden Stonefly
Sizes: #8 - #16
Region: Northwest
Golden Stonefly
Sizes: #8 - #16
Region: East
Golden Stonefly
Sizes: #8 - #16
Region: Midwest
Golden Stonefly
Sizes: #8 - #16

Green Stone

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West, Northwest, Midwest
Green Stone
Sizes: #12 - #18

Little Black Stone

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West, Northwest, East
Little Black Stone
Sizes: #14 - #20
Region: Midwest
Little Black Stone
Sizes: #14 - #20

Skwala Stone

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West, Northwest
Skwala Stone
Sizes: #12 - #16

Become a Member

Sign up for full access to the Learning Center
and all the FlyBrary Content.