Well it’s not time yet, but the multiple different types of stoneflies will start their yearly migrations to the rocky shores of streams and rivers across the West in month or two. It is time to start stocking fly boxes in anticipation of the fun to come.
Mr. Pat Bennet came up with a simple and effective pattern to imitate any of the larger stonefly nymphs, but he wasn’t the first to combine chenille and rubberlegs to imitate a stonefly. Al Troth came up with the Yuk Bug in the mid-1970’s. Before that, sometime in the 1960’s some innovative Montana tyer came up the Bitch Creek nymph, which might be the first popularized nymph that incorporated rubberlegs. All of these flies work. What Pat Bennet figured out is that all you need is the chenille and the rubberlegs. His pattern has fewer materials and is easier to tie than any of the earlier rubberleg nymphs. With the wide variety of both chenille and rubberlegs out there, the variations are nearly endless. My variation uses a standard ball head jig. It sinks very quickly and rides with the hook up which helps a bit when bouncing off the bottom. It’s an inexpensive and quick fly that is supremely effective.
Hook: 1/16 oz ball head jig, black
Thread: Bigfly size B, black
Body: Medium chenille, black
Legs: Micro-barred Grizzly Legs, black/pearl
