Topics 
Stonefly Nymphs
Book Special


Stonefly Nymphs - big flies for big fish!
Bitch Creek Kaufmann Stone, Black King Stone Nymph, Golden
FFS Stone Nymph, Brown Kaufmann Stone, Brown Montana Stone
FFS Stone Nymph, Golden Kaufmann Stone, Golden Ugly Bug
Golden Stone, Little King Stone Nymph, Brown Bead Head Stone Fly Nymphs

Stoneflies are a small, but divers family of insects that are adapted to well oxygenated streams and rivers. Stonefly nymphs have fixed gills that can only extract oxygen in moving water.  If trapped in still water they quickly die.  Most stoneflies crawl out of the water to hatch.  The normal procedure is for nymphs to   
migrate to shore to hatch. This migration activity is attractive to trout, grayling and whitefish. Some smaller species do hatch mid river at the waters surface much like mayflies do. Nymphs of several giant stone flies live in our rivers for up to three years before they hatch into winged adults. They are available to trout in several sizes, nearly year round. As the nymphs grow, they must take ever larger territories.  The redistribution of territory usually happens enmass with many insects changing territory at the same time.  This is called a behavioral drift.  The largest behavioral drift cycles of stone fly nymphs occur mid-September through May. These mass movements of  insects occur during the twilight of early morning and late evening.  During these periods nymphs move down stream.  Many are exposed to the currents and swept along out of control.  Trout key on these vulnerable morsels.  Drifting stone fly nymphs stay very close to the bottom.  A fly fished within 4" of the bottom is more effective than one fish 8" from the bottom. For this reason you should carry stone fly nymph patterns in several different weights to cover different water depths and speeds. Nymphs of both Salmonflies and Golden Stones become more brightly collored just before they hatch.  As the adult insect matures inside the nymphal skin, that skin is stretched and thinned slightly making it more transparent.  The brightening adult insect begins to show through and the over all appearance of the insect changes. The flies listed below will cover all of the subsurface "giant stone fly" nymph activity.  There are patterns such as the
Little Golden Stone
which covers growing Golden Stones and many smaller species as well.

Several weeks before the hatch, nymphs of most species of stone flies, including the giant ones such as salmon flies and golden stones will start to migrate to staging areas along the banks. No other occurrence in our rivers produces a feeding frenzy like a migration of big stone fly nymphs. Even the largest trout find it hard to refuse a big stone fly nymph fished deep along the bottom. The peak of this activity is the last two weeks before the hatch 

If you want to know more about how to be successful with stone fly nymphs, read "Guide to Aquatic Trout Foods" by Dave Whitlock.  (Click here to BUY)

starts and the first week after the hatch begins.

Stoneflies

Bitch Creek
This woven chenille body stone fly nymph has been a favorite in the Rookie Mountain States since the early '60s.  It is also a popular steelhead fly on the West Coast, particularly in Oregon.  
Heavy weighted.
Item Description Size Price To Top
9067-04 Bitch Creek 4 3 for $5.25 -->SALE ENDED
9067-06 Bitch Creek 6 3 for $5.25 -->SALE ENDED

FFS Stone Fly Nymph, Dark Brown
After reading "Nymph Fishing for Larger Trout" by Charlie Brooks we decided to try some heavy weighted Stone Fly Nymphs tied in-the-round. This method makes the nymph look the same whether up side down or right side up. This fly has been a success since 1975.  Heavy weighted.
Item Description Size Price To Top
11000-02 FFS Stone Fly Nymph, Dark Brown 2 3 for $5.25 -->SALE ENDED
11000-04 FFS Stone Fly Nymph, Dark Brown 4 3 for $5.25 -->SALE ENDED
11000-06 FFS Stone Fly Nymph, Dark Brown 6 3 for $5.25 -->SALE ENDED
11000-08 FFS Stone Fly Nymph, Dark Brown 8 3 for $5.25 -->SALE ENDED
11000-10 FFS Stone Fly Nymph, Dark Brown 10 3 for $5.25 -->SALE ENDED

FFS Stone Fly Nymph, Golden
Like all other insects stoneflies must shed their exoskeletons in order to grow. Some species of stoneflies turn from dappled brown shades to gold color for a period after this process.  This brightly colored nymph pattern is very effective during high water periods when newly transformed nymphs are being washed from the gravel.  Heavy weighted.
Item Description Size Price To Top
11500-06 FFS Stone Fly Nymph, Golden 6 3 for $5.25 -->SALE ENDED
11500-08 FFS Stone Fly Nymph, Golden 8 3 for $5.25 -->SALE ENDED
11500-10 FFS Stone Fly Nymph, Golden 10 3 for $5.25 -->SALE ENDED

Golden Stone, Little
There are many species of small golden brown stonefly nymphs in most watersheds.  The Little Golden Stone Nymph is a fly that is productive in a wide range of stream types from crystal clear spring creeks to glacial fed run-off rivers.  
Lightly weighted.
Item Description Size Price To Top
11950-10 Golden Stone, Little 10 3 for $5.25 -->SALE ENDED
11950-12 Golden Stone, Little 12 3 for $5.25 -->SALE ENDED
11950-14 Golden Stone, Little 14 3 for $5.25 -->SALE ENDED

Kaufmann Stone, Rubber Leg, Black
This is a recent version of Randall Kaufmann's famous Kaufmann Stonefly Nymph.  It is very popular and productive when used for both trout and steelhead.  It is very heavy weighted.
Item Description Size Price To Top
14280 Kaufmann Stone, Rubber Leg, Black 4 3 for $7.25 -->SALE ENDED
14281 Kaufmann Stone, Rubber Leg, Black 6 3 for $7.25 -->SALE ENDED

Kaufmann Stone, Brown
This an early version of the Kaufmann Stone which uses picked out angora hair for the legs.  Precisely formed wing cases are the key feature.  
It is very heavy weighted.
Item Description Size Price To Top
14261 Kaufmann Stone, Brown 4 3 for $5.95 -->SALE ENDED
14262 Kaufmann Stone, Brown 6 3 for $5.95 -->SALE ENDED

Kaufmann Stone, Golden
This bright gold fly is deadly during spring run-off periods.  It is very heavy weighted.
Item Description Size Price To Top
14270 Kaufmann Stone, Golden 8 3 for $5.95 -->SALE ENDED
14271 Kaufmann Stone, Golden 10 3 for $5.95 -->SALE ENDED
14272 Kaufmann Stone, Golden 12 3 for $5.95 -->SALE ENDED

King Stone Nymph, Brown
Matt King designed this fly using Thin Skin for the back and wing cases. It is very realistic to both anglers and trout. Medium weighted.
Item Description Size Price To Top
01126-06 King Stone Nymph, Brown 6 3 for $5.95 -->SALE ENDED

King Stone Nymph, Golden
Matt King designed this fly using Thin Skin for the back and wing cases. It is very realistic to both anglers and trout. Medium weighted.
Item Description Size Price To Top
01127-08 King Stone Nymph, Golden 8 3 for $5.95 -->SALE ENDED

Montana Stone
This may be one of the first really popular stonefly nymph patterns.  It can be as productive now as ever.  Medium weighted.
Item Description Size Price To Top
12230-04 Montana Stone 4 3 for $5.25 -->SALE ENDED
12230-06 Montana Stone 6 3 for $5.25 -->SALE ENDED

Ugly Bug
This is a Brad Jackson pattern made from lead wire, black chenille and rubber legs.  This the most heavily weighted stonefly nymph we sell.
Item Description Size Price To Top
12380-04 Ugly Bug 4 3 for $5.25 -->SALE ENDED
12380-06 Ugly Bug 6 3 for $5.25 -->SALE ENDED

The key to success is "understanding".  You can never know enough.
Understanding the organisms that trout feed on is one of the keys to catching trout.
DAVE WHITLOCK'S GUIDE TO AQUATIC TROUT FOOD
is great reference material for the trout fisher.
Check out our special deal.


No one beats our quality at any price!


*
Sandy River Fishery 
Information Bank

Daily Fishing Report

Watershed Over-view
Sandy River Book
Biology Etc. 
Watershed Council Web Site

Older semi-retired fly fishing guide on a day off on the river he loves best.


If you would like to read past "Insiders", click Archives

Your commentary is always welcome.  Drop us a line: flyfish@teleport.com 

  The Fly Fishing Shop, Welches, OR

1(800) 266-3971

To Top

www.flyfishUSA.com

Fish long & prosper,
Mark & Patty


Top Fishing Websites at TopFishingSites.Com 4reel fishing top fishing sites cyber-lake.com Top Fishing Sites
1