Productive Stonefly Pattern?
 

I just got into fly tying. I've started with nymphs, however am lacking a stonefly pattern. What stonefly pattern do you reccomend? What size and color? BTW I fish the Bow river, Blackstone, and would like to try the Oldman and Crow.

nymph you mean? #8 jimmy legs in brown or black. It's always the stupid looking flies that destroy

For a nymph, this one works well, McLennan's Alberta stone;

http://www.westernsportfishing.ca/Al...e/default.html

This I like

Copper John
 

I have luck with copper johns where there are stone flies I know it's more of a suggestive pattern but I believe it resembles small golden stones more than anything and it's a really heavy pattern which helps in the fast flowing freestone streams most stoneflies are found in. Probably not the best imitation but it has its place imo

X2 on this for sure. Always kills on the Oldman.

Double bead black/yellow stonefly

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll start with the Jimmy Legs. They look easy to tie so it doesn't hurt as bad when you loose one. Dragless: Do you use copper johns with darker color wire to represent stoneflies or just the standard copper color?

Jimmy Legs don't work at all.


:rolleye2:

Copper
 

Yeah just copper coloured so far but you could you use any colour you want of wire and even two different colours say like brown and black depending on the color of your stoneflies lots of ppl swear by red copper johns as well. This is pretty much just a longer version of the copper John with 2 extra wingbud sections https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_y5h-b6tal0

My go to stone tie is the Rowley stone.
http://youtu.be/9IPLd3jxRSw

I like tying my black ones with a red tungsten bead. Works well as a golden too.
Quick, easy and durable.

I tie red, orange, copper, black chartreuse, silver and blue.

Hahahha I see your Jimmy Legs and raise you a griffiths gnat! Same thing, dumb looking fly but productive as hell, believe it or not!

I've never met a competitive fly fisher who likes perfect little traditional dries. It's always the ugliest weird looking stuff that puts the most fish in the net. I won't name any more names though, for fear my comp buddies will beat me and cut out my tongue

Good looking pattern but 12 minutes to tie it is too long for me. I have the attent...SQUIRREL!!!!!!

I simplify it a bit... lose the flash and the bright collar. I think I can do it in 8 or so.

Do you use the same back and wing material? If so is it hard to get? It looks pretty good.

I just use clear and black thin skin and the yellow version for the goldens. I do like the pattern of the skin in that vid too.

Thanks

If you're looking for a dry fly stonefly... can't beat just a basic chernobyl ant. Sheet foam from michael's and some rubber legs and you're set. Once you've done a few, they are super easy to tie as well. Tan, then yellow, then black on top is my favourite colour.

Stone
 

Silver Tip Flies has some nice stones, and if you want to make your own, they have the body parts, to build from

Hot Wire Prince
 

I use a hot wire Prince to imitate a stonefly. Works everywhere in SW Alberta.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgrODzwkekA