dc410
Well-known member
I saw a bunch of these early stonflies flying around in the vegetation along the banks of the Conestoga River while scouting for carp this past week.
Early Stoneflies
- Thread starter dc410
- Start date
I haven't seen any stones yet this year, or any aquatic insect, for that matter.
salvelinus
Well-known member
I saw a few while riding on the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail on Friday.
Woollybuggerz
New member
Does anyone have some good patterns for these guys in early spring? I’ve seen Tim Flagler has a cool dry fly pattern but that’s all I’ve really seen. I like doing dry dropper and i just feel like anything that small is just impossible to use a dropper with.
tomgamber
Well-known member
this is pretty much the one I use
Woollybuggerz
New member
Thanks yea I tied a few of these last year. I couldn’t get mine nearly as clean. Funny enough I don’t even remember if I ended up fishing them lol
Woollybuggerz
New member
Nice! Thanks for sharing the photo and suggestion!
How did you trim the underside so neatly and cover with dubbing?
dc410
Well-known member
It looks to me like they may have used the hackle stacker method to tie that pattern. Good looking bug!
For nearly anything that is stonefly/caddis-like in profile, I pretty much only use the X2-Caddis anymore. I just vary the size and color and it matches stoneflies, grannoms, other caddis, yellow sallies, etc.
I will still sometimes use and Elk Hair, but the X2 is just so versatile.
I will still sometimes use and Elk Hair, but the X2 is just so versatile.
TerrellBFly
Member
Oh i am definitely tying these up!!! Hackle Stackers ftw.
thejoshmorgan
New member
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2016
- Messages
- 14
Purple Hippy Stomper, just cut foam strips more narrow. Should still float like a boat if you dip that foam in some Fly-Agra. Bonus point if it rides top-heavy, tips on its side and look crippled!
The Hippie Stomper is definitely my favorite foam fly.
thejoshmorgan
New member
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2016
- Messages
- 14
all-day brookie crusher. I don't even take a fly box anymore in the summer, I just wear 3 hippies on my hat. Orvis didn't improve it though when they bought the pattern and made it the holo humpy. Gotta roll your own!
I don't fish flies I didn't tie, so that doesn't matter to me.
I disagree, though. There are times when you need a fly other than the hippie for brookies. When brookie streams are really low and clear, even they can be spooky. In times like that, you need a fly that lands softer. Brookies aren't always the easiest fish to catch.
Like most delayed harvest right now the fish are pretty shell shocked, I caught 2 on a hares ear, lots of fish and lots of big fish, they spread them out better then the last couple years. I parked at the lower section, after I was done I watched the stretch below the bridge for a little and some fish were doing splashy rises which would then spook all the others
