The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning

The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning

Nymph

Dark Lord

Insect Species Icon Golden Stonefly, Little Black Stone, Skwala Stone and 1 others
Difficulty Icon Easy - 5-7 Min
Water Category Icon Coldwater

Tying Video

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Tying Recipe
  • Hook: Sproat Bend, Down Eye, 2X Heavy, 1X Long
  • Bead: Brass or Tungsten, Sized to Hook
  • Weight: .010 Lead Free Wire
  • Thread: UTC 70 Denier, Black
  • Tail: Goose Biots, Brown
  • Body: SLF Whitlock Dubbing, Black Stonefly
  • Rib: Brassie Ultra Wire, Gold
  • Wing: Goose Biots, Gold
  • Legs: India Hen Back, Natural
  • Collar: SLF Whitlock Dubbing, Black Stonefly

This awesome little stonefly pattern is made even better by the fact that is has some solid substitution options. You can most likely get a few of these cranked out with materials you have sitting at your bench already.

Tail: Turkey Biots in brown will take the place of the Goose Biots if necessary.

Wing: Turkey Biots in gold will take the place of the Goose Biots if necessary.

Body: Black Ice Dub or and similar flashy black dubbing will suffice.

Collar: Again, Black Ice Dub or and similar flashy black dubbing will suffice.

Legs: Hungarian Partridge in a natural color will do just fine for the legs if you’re in a pinch.

As far as variations go, just changing the colors of the many materials on this fly to match the specific insect you’re attempting to imitate will give the fly a nice change of pace. You could also toss in some Spanflex legs instead of the India Heck Back. They look great, and add some durability.

The Dark Lord does a terrific job of imitating stonefly nymphs, no matter the species or location. It is one of those universal patterns that is just too useful to not have in your box. The contrasting colors make this fly buggy as can be, and the choice of materials make it a durable bug that will last through many hookups and landed fish.

Fish this pattern deep, where stoneflies tend to hang out. Deep pocket water, or fast water that calls for a heavy fly are two prime locations to toss this bug into. A nymph rig is going to the be the best home for the Dark Lord.

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

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