Collection: Nymph Stoneflies

Stonefly nymph flies are amongst the biggest insects in any river system, which makes them a great food source for trout. Fishing stonefly nymph patterns can prove quite effective all year round, especially in situations where all other patterns fail. Having a good selection of stonefly nymph pattern bugs in your box can increase your chances of having a good day on the water even when trout are super selective.

Unlike other insects that go through a complete metamorphosis, the stonefly nymph flies go from egg, to nymph, then straight to adult, skipping the pupal or dun stages like a caddis nymph. Thus, they go through an incomplete metamorphosis. These nymphs spend most of their young life clinging to rocks and crevices and spaces between pebbles on the riverbed. (Guess that's why they call them stoneflies!) Fishing stonefly nymph patterns is a game of dead drifting your nymph flies close to the river bottom. You are trying to represent them in a state of becoming dislodged so that they become easy prey for trout waiting down current. This means that they don't have to be hatching to become a food source year-round.

Typically, stonefly nymphs are on the larger size of typical bugs we fish for trout, ranging from size #6 to size #14 depending on the species. This provides a very big nutritious meal for any hungry trout across the world. The Golden Stonefly is one of the bigger species, the Golden Kaufman Stonefly, is a great stonefly nymph pattern when this species is present. You should also try The Turd. We know it has a weird name, but it has to be one of the favorites here at the shop. Try one in Black or Brown and Yellow for best results. The body structure of a stonefly stays fairly consistent in shape although color and size can vary. Stonefly nymph flies can be tied with a bead or without depending on how deep you need to fish them and what profile you are looking for. The body is long and segmented, ending in two tails tied with goose biot. They have three pairs of legs, each ending in two claws that are used for gripping to the rocks. This enables them to hang on in the fast currents that they predominantly live in. So, fly fishing stonefly nymphs can be quite rewarding when fished at the appropriate time. Big food can sometimes mean big fish, so keep the stonefly preset in your fly box at all times.