Fly of the Month
We anglers are more likely to use a stonefly nymph rather than a stonefly dry fly. Since these stoneflies do exist in the stream bottom in great numbers as nymphs, large black, brown and golden colored stonefly nymph patterns are highly effective.
However, there are daytime “hatches” of small stoneflies in our Southern Appalachian streams that are very often ignored. Throughout the summer our North Carolina mountain streams typically have sporadic hatches of little yellow stoneflies or Alloperla caudata in the afternoon and medium brown stoneflies or Isoperla bilineata and Isoperla signata in the evening. Very often the medium brown stoneflies are very light brown or yellowish in color. By late summer the little green stoneflies or Alloperla inbecillia hatch replaces the medium brown’s and tends to mix in with the little yellow’s.
Hot Butt [Egg Laying] Stone
Taken a step further, pay close attention and you will find that rather than a stonefly hatch, you are in the middle of stoneflies depositing eggs. The eggs will be dull orange to red in color and the trout will key on that orangish-red egg sac when it appears over the water and on the surface of the water. A female stonefly with a full egg sac is burdened when first approaching the surface to deposit eggs and is vulnerable. Trout may likewise key on the vulnerability of the insect. Regardless of the reasoning for its success, the female version of a fly pattern is a great addition to the fly box.
Many, many decades ago, fly fishers in the smokies readily adopted and modified the Yellow Sally fly pattern which originated out West. Since both the little yellow stonefly and the medium brown stonefly appear one after the other and even together in our streams, a darker dun hackle is utilized to “match the hatch” of both. Add an orangish-red butt or hot butt and you have a female stone fly pattern.
Most all stoneflies hatch by crawling out of the stream along the banks, rocks and vegetation as nymphs. As the air dries the nymphal shuck the adult stonefly clinging to a rock, branch or even on the ground frees its wings, emerges and flies away to find a mate. To the angler this is an “invisible hatch”. The actual “visible hatch” the angler sees is during the mating and egg laying when the stoneflies congregate over the stream. For the little yellow stoneflies and medium brown stoneflies, the actual hatch or “invisible hatch” occurred during the morning or an even the prior morning. The “visible hatch” is the mating and egg laying in the afternoon and evening following the actual hatch.
After mating, the female stoneflies tend to congregate to lay eggs over the stream. They will not only be yellow in color but will have a red-orange egg sac. The N. C. Hot Butt Yellow Sally fly pattern is specifically designed to imitate the female little yellow stonefly and the medium brown stonefly. The egg laying will typically continue into the late-evening until the females are spent. The male stoneflies return to the stream as well. Some follow their female mate, some come later. By dusk, most of the stoneflies of the “visible hatch” are spent.
To fish the “visible hatch” take note as to whether the stoneflies have an egg sac. For the most part the Hot Butt Stone will be effective regardless. However, if there are a good number of stoneflies present with egg sacs, the hot butt version may well produce more catches. Until spent, stoneflies will hover very close to the surface. This will require that your Hot Butt Stone dry fly floats high on the surface, so keep applying floatant as needed. If the “visible hatch” is running late and you fish until dusk, you will be amazed at the overall number of these stoneflies available for the trout.
Hot Butt Stone
Hot Butt Yellow Sally
N. C. Hot Butt Yellow Sally
Fly of the Month 6.18
……recipe and instructions…….
Hot Butt Stone
…fly photo…
Hot Butt Yellow Sally
…fly photo…
- Tom Adams, Alen Baker
We anglers are more likely to use a stonefly nymph rather than a stonefly dry fly. Since these stoneflies do exist in the stream bottom in great numbers as nymphs, large black, brown and golden colored stonefly nymph patterns are highly effective.
However, there are daytime “hatches” of small stoneflies in our Southern Appalachian streams that are very often ignored. Throughout the summer our North Carolina mountain streams typically have sporadic hatches of little yellow stoneflies or Alloperla caudata in the afternoon and medium brown stoneflies or Isoperla bilineata and Isoperla signata in the evening. Very often the medium brown stoneflies are very light brown or yellowish in color. By late summer the little green stoneflies or Alloperla inbecillia hatch replaces the medium brown’s and tends to mix in with the little yellow’s.
Hot Butt [Egg Laying] Stone
Taken a step further, pay close attention and you will find that rather than a stonefly hatch, you are in the middle of stoneflies depositing eggs. The eggs will be dull orange to red in color and the trout will key on that orangish-red egg sac when it appears over the water and on the surface of the water. A female stonefly with a full egg sac is burdened when first approaching the surface to deposit eggs and is vulnerable. Trout may likewise key on the vulnerability of the insect. Regardless of the reasoning for its success, the female version of a fly pattern is a great addition to the fly box.
Many, many decades ago, fly fishers in the smokies readily adopted and modified the Yellow Sally fly pattern which originated out West. Since both the little yellow stonefly and the medium brown stonefly appear one after the other and even together in our streams, a darker dun hackle is utilized to “match the hatch” of both. Add an orangish-red butt or hot butt and you have a female stone fly pattern.
Most all stoneflies hatch by crawling out of the stream along the banks, rocks and vegetation as nymphs. As the air dries the nymphal shuck the adult stonefly clinging to a rock, branch or even on the ground frees its wings, emerges and flies away to find a mate. To the angler this is an “invisible hatch”. The actual “visible hatch” the angler sees is during the mating and egg laying when the stoneflies congregate over the stream. For the little yellow stoneflies and medium brown stoneflies, the actual hatch or “invisible hatch” occurred during the morning or an even the prior morning. The “visible hatch” is the mating and egg laying in the afternoon and evening following the actual hatch.
After mating, the female stoneflies tend to congregate to lay eggs over the stream. They will not only be yellow in color but will have a red-orange egg sac. The N. C. Hot Butt Yellow Sally fly pattern is specifically designed to imitate the female little yellow stonefly and the medium brown stonefly. The egg laying will typically continue into the late-evening until the females are spent. The male stoneflies return to the stream as well. Some follow their female mate, some come later. By dusk, most of the stoneflies of the “visible hatch” are spent.
To fish the “visible hatch” take note as to whether the stoneflies have an egg sac. For the most part the Hot Butt Stone will be effective regardless. However, if there are a good number of stoneflies present with egg sacs, the hot butt version may well produce more catches. Until spent, stoneflies will hover very close to the surface. This will require that your Hot Butt Stone dry fly floats high on the surface, so keep applying floatant as needed. If the “visible hatch” is running late and you fish until dusk, you will be amazed at the overall number of these stoneflies available for the trout.
Hot Butt Stone
Hot Butt Yellow Sally
N. C. Hot Butt Yellow Sally
Fly of the Month 6.18
……recipe and instructions…….
Hot Butt Stone
…fly photo…
Hot Butt Yellow Sally
…fly photo…
- Tom Adams, Alen Baker