Collection: Dry Stoneflies

The almighty Stonefly Dry Fly… such a fun bug to fish when they are present! Stonefly dry fly patterns, not to be confused with the stonefly nymph patterns vary in size from big to bigger which makes them so exciting to fish. These are the biggest insects trout eat. All stonefly flies crawl out of the water to emerge. If you take the time to inspect shoreline vegetation and rocks during emergence time, you will often see the cast shucks piled up on top of each other. Cast shucks are a prime indicator that working a nymph near shore or skipping and adult pattern through likely looking water is a worth a try. Fishing these dry flies is something every fly angler needs to experience.

Stoneflies fly fishing can be an amazing time to hook big trout because the offering is hard to refuse. With that being said, Stonefly patterns have so many profiles and sizes. Stonefly patterns can also be used for a good dry dropper rig as well, because they are bulky and float high. Some stonefly flies that are good for this are, the Godzilla and the whole line up of Gyspy Kings. Mating typically takes place on the ground or in the vegetation within a week of emergence. Stoneflies do not mate in the air. Each time the female touches the water she releases a portion of her egg cargo. Low light conditions are favored egg laying times. On some rivers getting on the water before first light and pounding the banks provides unbelievable action when fishing with a stonefly dry.

Some of our western rivers have an amazing Yellow Sally hatch during mid-summer. These much smaller stonefly patterns dry are usually found in sizes 10-14, but still a great dry fly to match the hatch and fool trout with. Some rivers in our area even have a hatch of early season stoneflies known as Skwala’s. As early as April these clumsy bugs skip and flutter around looking for a mate and become easy prey for trout. With over 600 species available worldwide, stoneflies come in a range of sizes and colors. Most species range between 3/8ths of an inch and 1-3/8ths in size, both nymphs and adults. All stoneflies crawl out of the water to emerge. Stonefly dry fly and stonefly flies can make any fly fishers day if the hatch is present. The one thing about these stonefly patterns is you know when someone is fishing them because they are not easy to disguise.