Stoneflies and Bobbers - Orvis Recon 1003-4

Weather forecast started off saying it would be a pleasant but cold day on the water. This would mean not much wind and a bit of sun to warm us up in the below freezing temps. By the time Steve, Mike, and I had the boat in the water and we were all geared up, I couldn't feel my fingers and the wind was blowing around 20mph. Hey thats winter fishing though, we were floating the Lehigh on a section new to me, but Steve had floated it a few times, and decided best thing to do was float some stoneflies under bobbers, I mean what trout doesn't enjoy some golden stones at sub zero temps? We fished all day, managed 1 trout, and lost about a dozen flies. I think the chicken salad wraps and beer for lunch, saved the day, but hey we all could have been sitting inside doing nothing (by a fire), that just seems boring to me.

It was nice however, to test out the new Orvis Recon 1003 nymphing rod. It threw double stones and an indicator with no trouble. Very light to hand, and has unbelievable feel to it, the finalized design with the fighting butt made it very comfortable to fish all day long. It has a very soft tip, but when needed it has the torque to really put the hammer down on some bigger sized trout. A great rod for the money and might be my new favorite Czech nymphing stick.

Penn State and Stoneflies

The forecast was calling for almost 60 degrees, so when Andy called me to ask if I wanted to go fishing Monday, it was a no brainer. We were headed out to one of his favorite sections of the creek to fish nothing but stonefly nymphs. If you didn't know, stoneflies are my favorite to fish and tie. I was just excited to get out and walk the creek and fish something bigger than a size 18 zebra midge. The fishing was great in my mind, but Brian and Andy said it was a little slower than earlier the week before. They were convinced that it was the drastic drop in was water temps, despite the warm air temps. But it was still an awesome day and I can't wait to get out again soon.

Early Stages of a Foam Back Stonefly

Top and Bottom of the A&W Stonefly Fly Pattern

The infamous Griddle Bug Fly

My new favorite Stonefly Hook. 

Featured Fly - Winter Stone

Here is an awesome Winter Stone Fly pattern that I have been tying up since the Fall. Stoneflies be a common bug, found in most streams in the Mid Atlantic, this is a great fly to have in both your trout and Steelhead boxes. This fly has done very well for me this year, fooling fish on streams from NY for steelhead and browns, to trout streams in PA. I tie it from a 14 to a 10, for the black and brown winter stones.

Materials:

Hook: TMC 2302 sz. 10-14

Thread: UNI Thread 6/0 - Black

Bead: Cyclopes Black - Sz to match hook

Tail: Goose Biot - Black or Brown

Rib: Ultra Wire - Brassie - Brown

Body: SLF Dubbing - Black Stone or Brown Stone 

Shellback: Swiss Straw - Black or Brown 

Legs: Mallard or Partridge - Black or Brown

Wing Case: Swiss Straw - Black or Brown 

Thorax: SLF Dubbing - Black Stone or Brown Stone 

Antenna: Goose Biots - Black or Brown 

Step 1: Make a thread base, tying in the ultra wire at the same time. Once at the hook bend, make a    small thread ball. (this will help split the biot tails)

Step 2: Tie in the 2 goose biots in front of the thread ball.

Step 3: Move your thread to the front of the fly, tie in a piece of swiss straw. (for the smaller flies split the straw into 3rds length wise)

Step 4: Add the dubbing the the thread and dub moving forward, about half way up the hook shank.

Step 5: Pull the Swiss straw forward, pull tight, then tie down.

Step 6: Rib the body with ultra wire.

Step 7: Dub the back of the thorax.

Step 8: Take a partridge feather and split the tips of the feather forming a "V". Then lay the feather down with the fibers sticking out each side, making the first set of legs.

Step 9: Fold the swiss straw forward making a wing case. 

Step 10:  Repeat step 8 and 9.

Step 11: Tie in goose biots out the front forming the antennas. 

Step 12: Trim the goose biots, then whip finish.

Finished Fly:

Here are a couple fish that fell to the Winter Stone this past fall and winter:

This Oak Orchard Brown fell to the Winter Stone  

This Salmon River Steelhead fell to the Winter Stone 

Featured Fly - Low Water Stone

Here is a small stonefly nymph that I came up with this last trip to Oak Orchard. It did very well fooling the high pressured fish. With low and clear water, we have found that small and black with a little accent color, work the best. I tie this little guy in 5 different colors; Pink, Fl. Chart., Peacock, Olive, and UV Brown.

Materials 

Hook: TMC 2457 sz. 8-10

Thread: UNI Thread 6/0 Black 

Tail: Goose Biots - Black 

Body: Life Cycle Dubbing - Black Stone 

Legs: Partridge Feathers - Black 

Wing Case: Swiss Straw - Black 

Thorax: Ice Dub - Olive 

Step 1: Secure the lead wire.

Step 2: Wrap the lead wire forward

Step 3: Make a small dubbing ball, tie in the 2 goose biots as tails.

Step 4: Dub the body, up to the lead wire.

Step 5: Tie in the swiss straw.

Step 6: Dub the Thorax

Step 7: Cut a "V" in a Partridge feather, then tie in.

Step 8: Pull over the swiss straw, making a wing case.

Step 9: Repeat step 6.

Step 9: Repeat step 7.

Step 10: Repeat step 8.

Step 11: Whip finish.

Finished Fly