MONTANA NYMPH
Hook: Nymph, sizes 2–12.
Thread: Black.
Tails: Black crow quill fibres.
Abdomen: Black chenille.
Thorax: Yellow chenille.
Wing cases: 2 strands of black chenille.
Legs: Soft black hen hackle wound through thorax.
The MONTANA NYMPH is perhaps the best-known artificial stonefly, and catches trout where there are no stoneflies! It is also an excellent catcher of small Atlantic salmon (grilse) in Norway and Scotland. TED TRUEBLOOD’S STONE is very similar, but includes brown instead of black chenille, orange instead of yellow chenille, and has two dark brown goose biots as tails.
Randall Kaufmann devised three great stonefly imitations in which the rib was Swannundaze. This is no longer available, but at the time of writing (2009) the similar Vinyl Rib (US) or Magic Glass (UK) is available. Like Swannundaze, this has a D-shaped cross-section and is ideal for ribbing large nymphs. A natural alternative is to take a dyed goose or swan feather quill and to peel, using a sharp knife or razor blade, a thin section of the outer core. Then trim this to the required width before tying in.
KAUFMANN’S BLACK STONE
Hook: Nymph, sizes 2–12 (Kaufmann recommended 12X long).
Thread: Black.
Tails: 2 black turkey biots.
Abdomen: ½ black Antron, ½ black, purple, claret, red, amber, fiery brown, blue and hot orange angora, well mixed.
Rib: Black Swannundaze (see here).
Thorax: As abdomen.
Legs: 2 pairs black rubber (optional).
Wing cases: Dark turkey, 3 sections coated in Fexament (or other clear flexible glue), tied in with thorax.
Head: As abdomen.
Antennae: 2 black turkey biots.
KAUFMANN’S BROWN STONE
Hook: Nymph, sizes 2–12 (Kaufmann recommended 12X long).
Thread: Tan.
Tails: 2 ginger goose biots.
Abdomen: ½ golden-brown fur, ½ claret, rust, black, blue, ginger and purple angora, well mixed.
Rib: Amber Swannundaze (see here).
Thorax: As abdomen.
Legs: 2 pairs black rubber (optional).
Wing cases: Mottled turkey, 3 sections coated in Fexament (or other clear flexible glue), tied in with thorax.
Head: As abdomen.
Antennae: 2 ginger goose biots.
KAUFMANN’S GOLDEN STONE
Hook: Nymph, sizes 8–14.
Thread: Brown.
Tails: 2 brown turkey biots.
Abdomen: ½ hare’s ear (or the synthetic Haretron), ½ gold, amber, rust, blue and orange angora, well mixed.
Rib: Amber Swannundaze (see here).
Thorax: As abdomen.
Legs: 2 pairs black rubber (optional).
Wing cases: Dark turkey, 3 sections coated in Fexament (or other clear flexible glue), tied in with thorax.
Head: As abdomen.
Antennae: 2 brown turkey biots.
Kauffmann also recommends tying some with a goldhead (see here) behind the eye.
Charles Brooks, author of Nymph Fishing for Larger Trout (1976), devised several excellent, simple-to-tie stonefly nymphs that should be in every nymph-fisher’s fly box. He insisted on a lead wire underbody to take the nymphs deep; otherwise use a goldhead or tungstenhead.
BROOK’S STONEFLY NYMPH
Hook: Nymph (3X), sizes 4–10.
Thread: Black.
Tails: 2 black goose biots.
Body: Black fur dubbing, with slightly fatter thorax.
Hackle: Grizzle, tied in at base of thorax section and palmered forward to head.
BROWN STONEFLY NYMPH
Hook: Nymph (3X), sizes 6–12.
Thread: Brown.
Tails: 2 brown goose biots.
Body: Brown fur dubbing, with slightly fatter thorax.
Hackle: Brown hen hackle, tied in as base of thorax section and palmered
