Fly foam (body) Golden tan over a contrasting underlayer (Two layers glued and folded to about 8 mm thick, cut 1 1/4 in long)
Spray adhesive (3M Super 77) and superglue Clear head cement (As needed)
Stick-on hopper eyes Brown eyes (1 pair, large)
Barred rubber legs Tan barred rubber legs medium (One set per side, rear and front)
A.K. copper legs (or knotted equivalent) Natural rubber legs (1 pair)
Foam wing, stamped with a stonefly wing cutter Mottled or tan foam wing stamped with a stonefly wing cutter (2 mm, one wing)
Foam indicator, stamped Hi-vis (1 small tab)
How to tie it
Build the body blank ahead of time: spray two sheets of foam with adhesive, press them together and let them set, then spray the top again and fold it over, giving a sandwich about 8 mm thick. Cut a strip 1 1/4 in long with a razor blade and taper the rear end. The taper cuts bulk and lets the underlayer colour show.
Start 6/0 thread on the hook, lay the foam strip on top with a little overhanging the back and lash the front down tightly, keeping the wraps on the far side straight or the segments will look crooked.
Segment the body working rearward: come up over the top of the foam and place each thread wrap in an evenly spaced band, rolling the foam toward you as needed to see what you are doing, until you reach the bend.
Jump behind the bend of the hook and take one or two more segmenting wraps around the tapered rear end. This is the awkward part, and it takes a few flies to get the feel.
Work the thread forward again, dropping each wrap into the existing segment grooves, up to the front tie-in point.
Jump ahead of the front tie-in and make one segment just behind the eye to form the head, then come back to leave a fat thorax between head and body.
Peel a large brown hopper eye off the sheet with a needle and stick one on each side of the head.
Tie tan barred rubber legs in X-style at the thorax so there is a set on each side, then clip off the forward-pointing halves so only the rear legs remain, matched in length.
Cut a pair of A.K. copper legs in half and tie one in on each side at whatever angle you like, so they flare slightly and sit up a touch; trim the nubs. Add a few Sharpie dots for character.
Tie the stamped 2 mm foam wing flat on top of the thorax.
At the front segment, tie in a set of barred rubber legs on each side, then pull the stamped foam indicator tab down over the top and secure it, keeping the legs clear; trim close with a blade.
Trim all the legs to length, then coat the thread with superglue and wrap over it. The glue acts as the whip finish. Finally glue the wing down to the top of the body so it stays centred.