How to Tie a Flash Stonefly Nymph

Learn how to tie the Flash Stonefly Nymph fly pattern including step-by-step instructions, a video tutorial, pictures, and much more. Improve your fly tying skills here.

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If you're looking for a productive trout fly pattern for freestone rivers around the world, you've found it. This Stonefly pattern is a great searching pattern, golden stone imitation, and much more. This can be fished under an indicator, with a Euro Nymph Rod, or using a tightline technique. It's also a fun pattern to tie with techniques that can be used on a multitude of other nymph patterns. Tune in as Jared walks us through the step-by-step instructions to tie the Flash Stonefly - then purchase your materials from us and start tying!

Materials:

• Daiichi 1730 Bent Shank Nymph Hooks - Size 10
• Hareline Plummeting Tungsten Bead - 5/32, Gold
• Hareline Spooled Lead Wire - .020
• UTC Ultra Thread 70 Denier - Rusty Brown
• Hareline STS Trilobal Dubbing - Tan
• Spirit River UV2 Goose Biots - Brown
• Flat Diamond Braid - Gold
• Hareline Medallion Sheeting - Buggy Dark Dun
• Hareline Copic Sketch Marker - Black
• Spirit River UV2 Ostrich Plume - Grey
• Hareline Grizzly Barred Rubber Legs - Natural

Step One:

Start the fly by positioning the Tungsten Bead and seating it with Lead Wire. Wrap the Lead Wire so it covers most of the hook shank and push it up to seat the bead.

Step Two:

Start your thread, take a few wraps over the thread to anchor it in place, then build a dubbing ball before tying in your tail. The dubbing ball will help splay the tail and give the fly a more buggy look.

Step Three:

Next, tie in the Goose Biots right behind the lead on either side of the hook shank to create the tail of the fly. Capture the Biots with loose wraps then position them on the hook shank and pull down on the thread to flare them.

Step Four:

Tie in the Diamond Braid right in front of the tail and wrap it to the front bend of the hook. After tying the Diamond Braid in, wrap it forward taking touching turns to create the body of the fly. Tie it off at the front bend of the hook and snip off any excess fibers.

Step Five:

After wrapping the body of the fly, use a Copic Sketch Marker to darken the back. Stoneflies typically have a dark back so this adds a realistic element to the fly.

Step Six:

Select a piece of Medallion Sheeting and snip the end so it tapers to a point. Tie the point in above the front bend of the hook and wrap rearward so the Sheeting overlaps with the body of the fly.

Step Seven:

Next, select an Ostrich Plume and tie it in on top of the Sheeting. This will be wrapped to create the illusion of gills later.

Step Eight:

To start the thorax of the fly, create a dubbing noodle to cover the tie in points of the Plume and Sheeting. Leave room behind the bead to tie in legs.

Step Nine:

Next, tie in the Barred Rubber Legs first on the near side of the hook shank then on the far side. Leave the legs long - they'll be trimmed to size later.

Step Ten:

After tying in the legs, finish the thorax of the fly with more dubbing. Be sure to dub in between the two sets of legs and in between the front legs and the bead.

Step Eleven:

Wrap the Ostrich Plume through the legs with open turns to cover the thorax of the fly. This will give the illusion of small gills in the water. Tie the Plume off right behind the bead and trim any excess materials. Snip the legs but leave them long - we'll trim them later.

Step Twelve:

After wrapping the Plume, pull the Medallion Sheeting over top of the fly to create the wingcase. Again, tie it off behind the bead and trim any excess materials.

Step Thirteen:

Throw a whip finish and add some UV Clear Fly Finish to the wing case for durability and shine in the water. Pull the rear legs backward and trim them so they're slightly longer than the tail. Pull the front legs forward and trim them so they're slightly longer than the bead.

Step Fourteen:

And that's the Flash Stonefly. While this is a relatively complex pattern, it's incredibly lifelike and works well when trout are feeding on Golden Stone Nymphs deeper in the water column.

Questions?

Give us a call here at the shop at (888) 413-5211 or email us anytime at [email protected].