Fly Tying Inventory
Bead Head Stonefly Nymph
A classic bead-head stonefly nymph pattern with goose biot tails, dubbed body, copper rib, turkey wingcase, and partridge legs. The tungsten bead ensures rapid sink to the bottom where stonefly nymphs naturally live. An essential subsurface pattern for any river system with stonefly populations.
🪶 Ready to tie this?
This pattern needs 10 materials. Sign up free to check which ones you already own.
Materials
2XL or 3XL nymph hook, size 6-14
Gold or copper tungsten bead, matched to hook size
Lead or lead-free wire, wrapped behind bead
Brown or black 8/0 to 10/0
Brown or black goose biots, two, split
Fine copper wire or brown Vinyl Rib
Dark brown SLF dubbing or synthetic dubbing
Mottled turkey feather or synthetic wingcase material (Exo Skin)
Same dubbing as abdomen, picked out for a buggy appearance
Mottled brown partridge or grouse feather fibers, swept back
How to Tie the Bead Head Stonefly Nymph
- 1
Step 1
Slide a tungsten bead onto the hook. Secure the hook in the vise. Optionally wrap lead wire behind the bead for extra weight.
- 2
Step 2
Start thread behind the bead and build a smooth base back to the bend.
- 3
Step 3
Tie in two goose biots at the bend, split and splayed for the tail.
- 4
Step 4
Attach copper wire or vinyl rib at the tail base.
- 5
Step 5
Dub a tapered abdomen forward to the 60% mark. Wrap the rib forward over the body in even spirals. Tie off.
- 6
Step 6
Tie in a section of turkey feather or synthetic material for the wingcase at the thorax.
- 7
Step 7
Dub a bushy thorax with brown dubbing, leaving plenty of stray fibers.
- 8
Step 8
Tie in partridge feather fibers on each side of the thorax for legs, sweeping them rearward.
- 9
Step 9
Pull the wingcase material forward over the thorax. Tie down behind the bead.
- 10
Step 10
Whip finish behind the bead and apply head cement. Optionally coat the wingcase with UV resin.
Pick out thorax dubbing on the underside with a bodkin for extra leggy movement in the water.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImJq9_pqazs
Credit: Traditional