Bodkin / Patterns

Deep Cleaner Stonefly Nymph

Nymph · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook heavy curved/jig nymph hook, 4-10
  • Thread brown or black 6/0

Materials

  • Bead/weight Slotted tungsten bead and/or lead-free wire under-wrap (as needed)
  • Body Mop chenille 'worm', coffee-brown (or golden stone) (1-2)
  • Legs Coffee/brown Pat's or Sexi-style rubber legs (2-3 pairs)
  • Thorax Spiky stonefly dubbing (small pinch)
  • Markings Black permanent marker for barring (as needed)

How to tie it

  1. Weight the hook heavily with a slotted tungsten bead and/or a lead-free wire under-wrap. This is a deep anchor stonefly meant to bounce bottom in fast water.
  2. Start thread and tie in a mop-chenille 'worm' segment at the rear as a fat, tapered, curved tail/abdomen with lots of built-in wiggle.
  3. Tie in two to three pairs of rubber legs splayed around the shank so the fly is tied 'in the round' (360°) for bounce and hover on the drop.
  4. Dub a fuller, spiky thorax over the leg roots to fill out the body.
  5. Whip finish, then bar the mop body and legs with a black marker to suggest stonefly segmentation and markings.
  6. Pick out the thorax so the whole fly looks plump and buggy.

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