Fly of the Month

This is an easy fly pattern to tie – much like the Copper John. The abdomen ribbing effect comes from using two colors of fine colored wire, one bright color and one a contrasting dark color. The thorax is dubbed. Goose biots provide the forked tail and two legs on each side of the thorax. A bead head is prescribed but may be omitted if some underbody of substitute lead is used for weighting under the thorax. The two wires provide some weight regardless.

Two Wired Stonefly Nymph

Actual stonefly nymphs are typically, black, brown or rusty brown, and golden or tan in larger sizes (4-12) as well as black, yellow, and green in smaller sizes (14-18). For example, a Black Two Wired Stonefly Nymph may have an abdomen ribbed with hot orange wire and black wire; UTC medium. The tiny winter black stonefly nymphs would be imitated with UTC small wire of the same colors. A Brown Two Wired Stonefly Nymph may have an abdomen ribbed with silver wire and amber or rust wire; UTC medium. A Golden Two Wired Stonefly Nymph may have an abdomen ribbed with hot yellow wire and copper wire; UTC medium. The little yellow and little green stonefly nymphs would be imitated with UTC small wire of the same colors as the larger golden stonefly.

The amount of weight determines how fast the nymph fly pattern will sink toward the bottom. The slowest rate may be achieved by omitting the bead and depending only on the two wires of the abdomen. The fastest rate may be achieved with a tungsten bead. White goose biots may be used to make the nymph fly pattern stand out on a dark bottom but typically the goose biots color is naturally matched to the color of the nymph.

In North Carolina mountain streams, the golden stonefly nymph is highly effective, thus the hot yellow and copper wire combination is a good choice.

Two Wired Stonefly Nymph
Fly of the Month 12.20

Tom Adams and Alen Baker

Two Wire Nymph Recipe

HOOK : Nymph hook, size 6,8,10,12,14,16
Thread : 8/0 to match body
Tail: Goose Biots to match pattern
Abdomen : Two alternate colors of UTC wire to match pattern
Wings : Goose Biots to match pattern
Thorax Dub : Buggy to match pattern

Directions :

1. Debarb hook and add a bead, mount in vise.
   
   
2. Begin thread wraps two or three eyelengths back from eye and wrap tightly about one third of the length.  Let the bobbin hang
   
   
3. Select two biots and mark the length to tie in at slightly less than the hook length. Tie in one at the point above the hook barb with the natural curve facing outward.     Tie in the other barb to match on the opposite side.  Trim away the waste and lay wraps to the front of the hook shank and let the bobbin hang
   
4. Select a three inch piece of wire of both colors.  Tie the two in together on top of the hook shank and advance the thread along with the wire on top of the hook to the biot tail. Return the thread to the tie in and let the bobbin hang
   
5. Wrap the two wires together to form the abdomen.  Stop just slightly ahead of the halfway mark to allow for the thorax. The wires will wrap quite easily without overlapping, just take your time.  Also, the start of the wire wrap is essential.  Take your time and the rest will follow.  Once reaching the thorax, make several turns of thread to trap in position and helicopter the waste wire.  
   
6. Dub the thread with a small amount of dub and wrap onto the hook at the transition from the abdomen to the thorax.  This will make a “bed” for the legs.
   
7. Choose a pair of goose biots and secure on each side of the hook to form the back set of legs.  There should be a small amount of dub before the tie in.  The length is short, less than a hook gap.  Trim the waste biot.
   
8. Dub again to the bead and tie in the second set of legs like the first.  Trim the waste biot and dub the thread for the last wraps of dubbing to the bead.
   
9. Make a three or four turn whip finish, cut thread.