Featured Photo: Big Laurel Falls

Featured Photo: Big Laurel Falls

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Yellow Stones

Late spring and summer in the Smokies always means Little Yellow Stoneflies.  There are different species, ranging in size from the big Golden Stones down to #18 but most commonly in the #12-#16 range.  The following is one of my favorite patterns for this hatch.  I like it for two reasons:  it is easy to tie, and it floats very well.  If you want to try it out, here is the recipe.

Hook: #16 TMC 100 or similar dry fly hook
Thread: Yellow 8/0
Body:  Yellow Poly Yarn
Wing:  Yellow Poly Yarn
Hackle: Light or Medium Dun, trimmed on the bottom


Lots of other great patterns work, but I'm about efficient, easy to tie patterns that still wear out the fish.  Next time you are heading up to the Smokies, make sure and stay until evening and then tie one of these on.  You'll be glad you did...
Posted by David Knapp at 10:04 AM

6 comments:

  1. Caleb Boyle8:21 PM

    Nice and simple! And a floater for sure too.

    ReplyDelete
  2. David Knapp8:50 PM

    Caleb, you're right, between the poly yarn and hackle it does great staying on top!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Regular Rod3:02 AM

    That fly would surely work in England when the Yellow Sallies are about. In flight they look like little yellowish Chinook helicopters and on the water they sit close like your cropped hackle lets your fly sit.

    Regular Rod

    ReplyDelete
  4. David Knapp7:22 AM

    Regular Rod, I think getting the fly to sit on the water correctly is important and this fly almost always lands correctly and sits close to the surface. Definitely a good pattern!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Matthew Timbs12:03 PM

    Ever tie these in other colors as a simple fly pattern? i.e. grays or browns maybe?

    ReplyDelete
  6. David Knapp1:58 PM

    I may have tied these in brown but I can't remember. It would be a great caddis pattern when tied in the correct hatch-matching colors. Definitely fun to experiment with. Another option is to dub the body but I really like the poly yarn wing as it floats well and is easy to see...

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)