The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning

The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning

Nymph

Articulated Stonefly Nymph

Insect Species Icon Golden Stonefly, Salmonfly, Skwala Stone
Difficulty Icon Medium - 7-10 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
  • Hooks: Rear Hook Mustad Nymph 2XL  Sz10 Front Raven Specialty Hook Sz10
  • Bead:  Standard tungsten 1/8 Gold
  • Weight: Lead free round wire .015
  • Thread: UTC 70 denier black
  • Legs: Flexifloss Black
  • Body: Wapsi Round Vinyl Rib Size Med.
  • Wing case: Think Skin Black covered in clear UV resin
  • Thorax: Ice Dub Black and Pheasant Tail.
  • Articulation wire: 8# fluorocarbon
  • Hooks: Use any two nymph hooks that you like, be sure that the front hook is shorter than the back hook, as the thorax and head parts are shorter than the tail on the naturals.
  • Bead: Use any standard bead that you like, tungsten or brass.
  • Weight: Feel free to skip this step or add heavier wire.
  • Thread: Use any thin diameter thread that you like. Try not to go under 8/0 or 70 denier, as this may be too thin and break. Also try not to go above 6/0 or 140 denier, as this may make the body too thick.
  • Legs: Use any small round rubber legs that you like.
  • Body: Ultra wire in a brassie size makes great bodies.
  • Wing case: Kiley’s nymph skin can be a great substitute for this. If you’re looking for a natural material, try black turkey tails. If you don’t have UV resin, thick head cement will work too!
  • Thorax: Use any long fibered stringy dubbing that you like. Ice dub is great for flashiness and stringiness, for a more natural thorax, try arizona simi-seal dubbing.
  • Articulation wire: Since there is no hook on the back of this fly, feel free to use any articulation wire that you can find. This includes 4x-1x tippet, or any pound test braid.

This is a fly that you can really have fun with for adding materials to make it as buggy or as slim as you want it. For a more realistic stonefly, try adding turkey quill antennae and tails, and even a turkey biot quill body for extra realism! For more of a flowing segment, try adding a small bit of marabou at the tail of the front hook, so there is little segmentation.

This is a great high water nymph that moves like no other nymph out there. The articulated tail will sway and wiggle as the fly moves down the river, pushing water and putting on a show for any trout that is on the search for a big meal in murky high waters.

Use this fly as the lead fly on an indicator rig for best results for getting the entire rig down into the feeding lanes. This may not be the best point fly or tag for euro nymphers due to the standard hook setup, and weight of the fly. If fishing this fly with a dry dropper, be sure to use a big foam fly to float this guy up.

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

Salmonfly

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West, Northwest
Salmonfly
Sizes: #6 - #14

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.