Flies Tying
How to Tie a Stimulator Dry Fly for Trout
Stimulators are definitely one the most popular “big” flies on trout streams. They are versatile, float well, visible, easy to tie, and can imitate a lot of different things. As soon as Stone Flies or Salmon Flies hatch, Stimulators will be effective and will continue to be right up through the fall. As soon as the Stone and Salmon Flies disappear, the hoppers will be hitting the water. Hopper imitations will work well into the Fall Caddis hatch. With the exception of color variations from river to river and from hatch to hatch, the stimulator will imitate any of these bugs, as well as just looking like a tasty treat floating by.
To watch a step by step video on how to tie a stimulator follow this link: WWW.OnlineFlyFishingGuide.com/Stimulator
Each river has its own variations of color and size of certain bugs that the Stimulator will imitate. As a general rule, below is a list of the colors that are typical for certain bugs and the times of year they are generally present throughout North America.
May-July: Stone / Salmon Flies
These big bugs hatch as soon as the river starts to clear and warm up. They vary in size greatly with good imitations tied on hooks from size 2 (huge) to size 18 (small) for Little Sallies. Stone Flies also vary in color widely depending on the river, so it is wise to check the colors you will need before you go. Most are some variation or combination of gray, brown, orange, tan, and or yellow.
July-September: Hoppers
The hot summer months typically produce smaller aquatic insects than earlier in the year. This however is when land insects attain their full size. Grass Hoppers are something that hungry fish are always looking for as they uncontrollably fly and accidently land on the water where they are helpless. Hoppers vary in size and color, but any good size stimulator pattern in yellow, tan, brown, green, orange, and maybe some red combination will usually bring trout to the surface. Many times though, they are wary, so the fly needs to be fished naturally and with light tippet, as the water is usually low and clear this time of year.
September-November: Fall Caddis
Known by many names such as October, Fall, and Autumn Caddis, it is not hard to figure out when these super-sized caddis are in the rivers. As far as shape goes, Fall Caddis look exactly like any other caddis. But for size, they are much bigger with patterns tied on hook sizes 6-12 being the norm. Regular Caddis can be any color, but the only color you will need for October Caddis is a creamy orange color. A stimulator with an orange body is about as good as it gets when chasing trout in the fall, almost no matter which North American river you are trout fishing. The odd thing about this hatch is that you will not see them emerging out of the water and flying all around like other caddis hatches. Turn over some rocks though or look in the bushes along the bank and you will find them. Just when you think there are none around is when one will scare you by crawling up the back of your neck. When they do fly you know what it is as it will struggle to stay in the air, and then hit the water and release its eggs, hopefully before getting eaten. Anyway, if you plan to be on a trout stream in the fall, be sure to have some orange stimulators in your fly box (yellow will probably work too).
Recipe:
Hook: Daiichi 1260 in size of your choice
Body: Poly Yarn in color of your choice
Head: Poly Yarn in color of your choice
Wing: Natural elk hair or other color
Tail: Natural elk hair or other color
Hackle: Dry fly hackle
Fishing a Stimulator
Stimulators are one of my favorite patterns to fish. They are easy to cast, highly visible, and the fish love them. Just squirt a little fly floatant on it and you are ready to fish. I like to fish them in fast water where fish will see them and not have much time to make up their mind as to whether or not it is real. Usually you can get by with heavier tippet with these than with small imitations. I typically use 3X or 4X, unless they are being finicky, then I will go a little lighter to 5X tippet. If I see even one stone fly in the sky throughout the day, I will immediately tie on a Stimulator of some color variation depending on the river. If there are stone flies on the water, those fish will be looking up, and a big juicy insect is too much to pass up.
Conclusion:
Stimulators are available in just about any fly shop you will visit as are the materials you will need to tie them. They are easy and inexpensive to tie and will float on the water like a boat. For more information on stimulators and to watch a video on tying them as well as other productive flies, visit WWW.OnlineFlyFishingGuide.com or go directly to the fly tying pages at WWW.OnlineFlyFishingGuide.com/fly tying
About the Author
Chris Jackson is an avid outdoorsman who lives in North Idaho with his wife and daughter. He owns and operates the popular website WWW.OnlineFlyFishingGuide.com
Tying Flies with Davie McPhail CDC Klinkhamer
|
|
The Benchside Introduction to Fly Tying $32.26 9 x 12 inches, All Color, Split pages |
|
|
The Complete Book of Fly Tying $20.45 Step-by-step, illustrated instructions for tying all the basic flies are augmented by details for tying hundreds of traditional flies of all kinds and for all patterns. |
|
|
Fly Tying Made Clear and Simple II (Paperback) $18.77 The original Fly Tying Made Clear and Simple has been an unqualified hit. Now in its 22nd printing, it has remained among the top-selling fly-tying books consistently for 18 years?a miraculous achievement. Now this follow-up volume, Fly Tying Made Clea… |
|
|
Prince Nymph Fly Fishing Fly Selection $21.99 Prince Nymph has been a standard fly in every fly anglers box for 30 years15 years ago the Gold Bead Prince was introduced and is fished throughout the world24-piece set gives you 6 standard princes and 18 gold bead princes |
|
|
Complete Fly Tying Kit (Hardcover) $21.96 Description not available. |
|
|
Charlie Craven`s Basic Fly Tying (Hardcover) $26.11 Description not available. |
|
|
Universal Fly Tying Guide $11.58 Description not available. |
|
|
Tying Foam Flies $13.09 |
|
|
Fly Tying for Beginners $16.33 Any angler who takes up the art of fly tying will discover an added dimension to the wonderful sport of fly fishing. This profusely illustrated instruction book shows beginners how to craft 50 professional-looking flies for trout and salmon fishing. Ea… |
|
|
Wet-fly Tying and Fishing (Hardcover) $36.75 Shows how various types of flies play a complementary role in fishing. This book demonstrates how wet-flies catch trout and are effective as dry-flies and nymphs. |
|
|
SilverLake Freshwater Fishing Flies (Pack of 25) $11.99 You’ll be pulling fish from water in no time with this excellent assorted set of hand tied flies and streamers. With 25 of today’s most popular patterns and styles, you’re sure to find one that works for any given situation. |
|
|
Clouser’s Flies $28.81 Description not available. |
|
|
Tying Dry Flies (Hardcover) $18.77 Description not available. |
|
|
Art of the Fly (Hardcover) $33.86 Description not available. |
|
|
Black Web Men’s Tie Waist Board Shorts $17.99 Black Web board shorts are a casual apparel essential for any manMen’s swimwear features a tie-front waist with a Velcro fly closure Men’s clothing is ideal for sport, surf and swim |
|
|
Rocky Mountain Special 64-piece Fly Set with free nipper $63.99 Selection picked by the pros with a wide selection of patterns and sizesPerfect gift for the fly fisherman in your life64-piece fly set comes with durable fly boxEach fly is hand-tied |
|
|
Production Fly Tying $30.06 Description not available. |
|
|
Wired Nymph Assortment 24-piece Fly Set $21.99 Smart choice for any camping or fishing gearFlies are hand-tied on chemically sharpened hooksContains 24 wired nymphs – six copper, six green, six black, six redPacked in a durable, pocket-sized polypropylene box |
|
|
Popular Mechanics Man Crafts (Paperback) $9.85 As its servicemen returned home at the end of World War II, the U.S. Army turned to Popular Mechanics to help them find new and lucrative occupations. A series of ten pamphlets was created, teaching skill… |
|
|
Wooly Bugger 36-piece Fly Collection $44.99 This 36-piece Wooly Bugger fly collection has any angler coveredFlies carefully tied in with and without beadsThis fishing gear works well for stream fishing and lake fishing |
|
|
The Fly-Tying Bible $16.31 Avid sport fishermen will treasure this book—which is nearly as beautiful as the objects it describes. Fly-tying is a highly prized fisherman’s craft, but it’s also an art form, wonderfully captured in this volume’s hundreds of … |
|
|
Fly Tyer, 4 issues for 1 year(s) $19.95 Fly Tyer is the only magazine dedicated to the art and craft of fly tying. Articles, columns, and departments provide practical tips and techniques from the experts illustrated by detailed step-by-step recipes and photos. The best magazine for e… |
|
|
Anne Klein Women’s Two-piece Pant Suit $119.99 A unique polyester tie completes the look of this two-piece, striped Anne Klein pant suit. The jacket features a two-button entry and a notched lapel. The pants feature belt loops, a zipper fly and are fully lined. |
|
|
Various Artists – Monster Ballads: the Ultimate Set [8/18] $14.7 Disc 1:Heaven – WarrantI Remember You – Skid RowEvery Rose Has It Thorn – PoisonForever – KissDon`t Know What You Got (til It`s Gone) – CinderellaFly To the Angels – SlaughterIs This Love – Whitesnake |
|
|
Orvis Guide to Beginning Fly Fishing (Paperback) $10.26 Counsels beginners on the fundamentals of fly fishing using illustrated guidelines that demonstrate everything from fishing ethics and safety practices to tying effective knots and casting a fly line. Original. 15,000 first printing. |
|
|
Super Why! (Paperback) $3.99 When Little Red Riding Hood becomes upset that her friends will not help her with apple-picking chores, the Super Readers fly into the story of the Little Red Hen to learn a better way to ask for assistance. Simultaneous. TV tie-in. |
|
|
Deer-hair Fly-tying Guidebook $11.54 Description not available. |
|
|
Nymph Fly-Tying Techniques $18.49 |
|
|
Fly Tying (Paperback) $19.57 Description not available. |
|
|
American Fly Tying Manual $9.85 Description not available. |
|
|
Rotary Fly-tying Techniques (Paperback) $16.78 Description not available. |
|
|
Flies, Ties, & Techniques (Paperback) $14.66 Demonstrates how to make fifty artificial flies for fly fishing, with step-by-step instructions and tips on how each fly acts in water. |
|
|
Bass Bug Basics $10.9 |
|
|
Tying Steelhead Flies $9.85 |
|
|
American Angler, 6 issues for 1 year(s) $21.95 American Angler is the magazine of Fly Fishing and Fly Tying. American Angler provides expert advice and practical information about fly fishing techniques, fly tying tips, entomology, conservation and equipment. |
|
|
The Fly-Tier’s Benchside Reference to Techniques and Dressing Styles $62.37 Description not available. |
|
|
Various Artists – This Bird Has Flown: A 40th Anniversary Tribute To The Beatles` Rubber Soul $9.99 Description Not Available |
|
|
The Orvis Tacklebox Book of Leaders, Knots, And Tippets $10.04 Every fly fisher knows how crucial leader construction and knot tying are. But with continual changes in line technology, what served as effective leader and tippet connections a decade ago might not be optimal now. By updating the … |
|
|
Bluegill Fly Fishing& Flies $11.78 Description not available. |
|
|
Fishing Basics $10.65 Everything from bait, spin, and fly casting to fishing rigs and fly tying is covered in this easy-to-read, heavily illustrated r |
|
|
Charles A. Lindbergh $16.99 A thorough portrait of the famed aviator, who was hailed as an American hero for flying unaccompanied from New York to Paris in 1927, but whose heroic status was severely diminished after his World War II isolationist views and ties to the Nazis wer |
|
|
Essential Fly Fishing $13.09 An updated introduction to fly fishing covers everything the new and intermediate fly fisher needs to know, including tackle and equipment selection, fly tying, casting techniques, fish behavior, fishing etiquette, and safety precautions, all enhanced … |
|
|
The Never-ending Stream (Paperback) $22.65 A master fly-tying artist himself, author Scott Sanchez profiles twenty of the luminary artists whose contributions to fly tying are legend, along with drawings, recipes, and gorgeous photos of their flies. |
|
|
The Orvis $21.64 This essential book on fly tying will teach anyone how to tie flies. All the important techniques are illustrated with color photographs, from starting the thread on the hook to whip finishing. The book lays the basic ground work by fully explaini… |
|
|
Barr Flies $26.11 Description not available. |
|
|
Tying Catskill-style Dry Flies (Hardcover) $36.1 Description not available. |
|
|
Franklin and Me $9.85 Franklin can tie his shoes, count by twos, button buttons, and zip zippers. He likes fly pie, baseball, his blue blanket, his night light, and the color purple. In this book, Franklin fans can print, draw, and record all the special things about the |
|
|
A Kid`s Guide to Flyfishing $12.04 Teaches how to fly fish, including tips on finding fish, casting techniques, and tying knots. |
|
|
DISCOVERIES AMERICA OHO $22.27 The DISCOVERIES…AMERICA series continues with this look at the state of Ohio. With sights that include amusement parks, fishing, the Longaberger Basket Company, fly tying with Chris Helm, and a look at the Amish population, this is a comprehensive … |
|
|
A. K. Best`s Fly Box $21.12 Fly tying, the foundation of a major sport, is also an art form. And the Picasso of fly tying is A. K. Best. A. K. Best’s Fly Box includes more than 200 full-color illustrations depicting naturals and their hi… |
