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Sunlit Cobble Stonefly Nymph

by @dekasso

Sunlit Cobble Stonefly Nymph — a fly pattern by Dekasso
More by @dekasso

Rubber Leg Stonefly · Nymph

Orange legs over sunlit cobble

A realistic rubber leg stonefly nymph on a size 8 nymph hook, olive-black and orange, for trout in fast, rocky water.

A stonefly nymph with mottled olive-black segments, a glossy split wing case and six bright orange legs. Barred black and cream biots form the tails and antennae, with small black eyes at the head.

Pattern
Rubber Leg Stonefly
Imitates
Stonefly nymph migration, typically late spring into early summer before emergence
Hook
size 8
Tippet
3Xrule of three
  • Size 8 3XL nymph hook
  • Six orange round rubber legs
  • Barred biot tails and antennae
  • Mottled black Thin Skin wing case
  • Olive-black dubbing, wire ribbed

On the water

A nymph fly drifting above a cobble streambed

Olive and black dubbing runs in tight segments down the back. A mottled black wing case sits over a shaggy thorax. Six orange rubber legs splay out like a bug clinging to a stone, and barred biots point both ways.

Fish it deep along the bottom of a riffle or a pocket behind a boulder. Dead-drift it close to the cobble, and let the legs kick as it tumbles. A slow lift at the end of the drift lets it rise like a nymph losing its grip.

Thin Skin wing cases look best cut in two short sections. Fold each over the thorax in turn so the back reads as layered plates, not one flat strip.

A coiled leader, tippet spools and an open fly box on slate

Rigging

Tippet
3Xhook size divided by three
Leader
Nine feet, with fluorocarbon tippet to get it down
  • Rig on 3X to 4X tippet; add split shot above the knot to reach the bottom in fast water.
  • Set the indicator about one and a half times the water depth so the fly ticks the stones.
  • Pair with a small trailing nymph 40 cm behind the bend for two depths at once.

Where and when

Hatch
Stonefly nymph migration, typically late spring into early summer before emergence
Target
Trout
Water type
Riffles, runs and pocket water over cobble
Also fishes
Swings well in tailouts and freestone rivers after rain, and works as the heavy anchor fly in a two-nymph rig.

Make it yourself

Advanced8 materials · 12 steps

Pattern
Rubber Leg Stonefly
Style
Nymph
Hook
Tiemco 5263size 8
Thread
Olive 6/0
Fly-tying materials laid out on a dark bench

Materials in the order they go on the hook

  1. EyesBlack mono nymph eyes
  2. AntennaeBlack and cream barred goose biots
  3. TailBlack and cream barred goose biots
  4. RibBlack small wire
  5. BodyOlive-black mottled dubbing
  6. Wing caseMottled black Thin Skin
  7. LegsOrange round rubber legs
  8. ThoraxOlive-black mottled dubbing

Details

Imitates
Stonefly Nymph
Colors
Olive, Black, Orange, Cream
A fly-tying vise holding a bare hook on a wooden bench

How to tie it

The steps, from first wrap to whip finish (12)
  1. Mount the hook and lay an olive thread base from eye to bend.
  2. Tie the mono eyes a short gap behind the hook eye with figure-eight wraps.
  3. Tie in two barred biots ahead of the eyes, splayed forward as antennae, about half a shank long.
  4. Tie in two barred biots at the bend, splayed apart, about half a shank long, then tie in the wire.
  5. Dub a tapered olive-black abdomen over the rear 60 percent of the shank.
  6. Wrap the wire forward in even segments and tie it off.
  7. Tie in a strip of Thin Skin, mottled side down, at the front of the abdomen.
  8. Tie in three orange rubber legs per side across the thorax, rear, middle and front.
  9. Dub the thorax loosely between and around the legs, up to the eyes.
  10. Fold the Thin Skin over the rear half of the thorax, tie down, then fold a second section over the front half.
  11. Pick out a few dubbing fibres along the thorax for a buggy outline.
  12. Whip finish behind the eyes and trim the legs to length.
Proportions (5)
  • Tails: about half the shank length, splayed in a wide V.
  • Antennae: about half the shank, matching the tails.
  • Abdomen: rear 60 percent of the shank; thorax and wing case the front 40 percent.
  • Legs: each about two-thirds of the shank, slightly longer at the rear pair.
  • Thorax: noticeably wider than the abdomen, roughly twice the body depth.
Tips (4)
  • Burn the mono eyes square before tying so they sit level.
  • Use a dubbing loop for the thorax to get spiky, mottled texture.
  • Knot each rubber leg once at the joint for a bent, kicking look.
  • Stretch the Thin Skin slightly as you fold it so it lies tight.
Common mistakes (4)
  • Crowding the eye: leave room behind the eyes so the head and whip finish fit cleanly.
  • Legs bunched together: space the three pairs evenly along the thorax with a few dubbing turns between.
  • Tails too stiff and straight: separate the biots with a small ball of dubbing so they flare.
  • Overdressed abdomen: keep it slim and tapered so the wire segments show.
A dozen-fly materials kit laid out on slate with its recipe card.
The kit

Every kit size

Materials only

Size 8 · Materials only · 12 flies

$50.60

$4.22 a fly

Includes Tiemco 5263 · Black mono nymph eyes · and 8 more

Every item in this kit · 10 items

Hooks & beads

  • Tiemco 5263$6.501 × 25 · size 8
  • Black mono nymph eyes$5.951 pack

Thread & wire

  • Olive 6/0 thread$2.951 spool
  • Black small wire$3.251 spool

Materials

  • Other material: Black and cream barred goose biots$92 packs · From the recipe row "Antennae"
  • Olive-black mottled dubbing$92 dispensers
  • Other material: Mottled black Thin Skin$4.501 pack · From the recipe row "Wing case"
  • Orange round rubber legs$3.501 pack

Finishing

  • Head cement$5.951 bottle

Guide

  • Printed recipe and tying stepsIncluded1

Size 8 · Materials only · 48 flies

$131.34

$2.74 a fly

Bought separately $138.25 · you save $6.91

Includes Tiemco 5263 · Black mono nymph eyes · and 8 more

Every item in this kit · 10 items

Hooks & beads

  • Tiemco 5263$132 × 25 · size 8
  • Black mono nymph eyes$11.902 packs

Thread & wire

  • Olive 6/0 thread$5.902 spools
  • Black small wire$6.502 spools

Materials

  • Other material: Black and cream barred goose biots$31.507 packs · From the recipe row "Antennae"
  • Olive-black mottled dubbing$31.507 dispensers
  • Other material: Mottled black Thin Skin$184 packs · From the recipe row "Wing case"
  • Orange round rubber legs$144 packs

Finishing

  • Head cement$5.951 bottle

Guide

  • Printed recipe and tying stepsIncluded1

Size 8 · Materials only · 144 flies

$323.27

$2.24 a fly

Bought separately $367.35 · you save $44.08

Includes Tiemco 5263 · Black mono nymph eyes · and 8 more

Every item in this kit · 10 items

Hooks & beads

  • Tiemco 5263$351 × 100 + 2 × 25 · size 8
  • Black mono nymph eyes$35.706 packs

Thread & wire

  • Olive 6/0 thread$17.706 spools
  • Black small wire$134 spools

Materials

  • Other material: Black and cream barred goose biots$9020 packs · From the recipe row "Antennae"
  • Olive-black mottled dubbing$9020 dispensers
  • Other material: Mottled black Thin Skin$4510 packs · From the recipe row "Wing case"
  • Orange round rubber legs$3510 packs

Finishing

  • Head cement$5.951 bottle

Guide

  • Printed recipe and tying stepsIncluded1

With vise & tools

Size 8 · With vise & tools · 12 flies

$200.60

$16.72 a fly

Includes Tiemco 5263 · Black mono nymph eyes · and 17 more

Every item in this kit · 19 items

Hooks & beads

  • Tiemco 5263$6.501 × 25 · size 8
  • Black mono nymph eyes$5.951 pack

Thread & wire

  • Olive 6/0 thread$2.951 spool
  • Black small wire$3.251 spool

Materials

  • Other material: Black and cream barred goose biots$92 packs · From the recipe row "Antennae"
  • Olive-black mottled dubbing$92 dispensers
  • Other material: Mottled black Thin Skin$4.501 pack · From the recipe row "Wing case"
  • Orange round rubber legs$3.501 pack

Finishing

  • Head cement$5.951 bottle

Tools

  • Rotary pedestal vise$791
  • Ceramic bobbin$141
  • Fine-point scissors$161
  • Whip finisher$91
  • Hackle pliers$71
  • Bodkin$51
  • Bobbin threader$41
  • Dubbing wax$41
  • Canvas tool roll$121

Guide

  • Printed recipe and tying stepsIncluded1

Size 8 · With vise & tools · 48 flies

$273.84

$5.71 a fly

Bought separately $288.25 · you save $14.41

Includes Tiemco 5263 · Black mono nymph eyes · and 17 more

Every item in this kit · 19 items

Hooks & beads

  • Tiemco 5263$132 × 25 · size 8
  • Black mono nymph eyes$11.902 packs

Thread & wire

  • Olive 6/0 thread$5.902 spools
  • Black small wire$6.502 spools

Materials

  • Other material: Black and cream barred goose biots$31.507 packs · From the recipe row "Antennae"
  • Olive-black mottled dubbing$31.507 dispensers
  • Other material: Mottled black Thin Skin$184 packs · From the recipe row "Wing case"
  • Orange round rubber legs$144 packs

Finishing

  • Head cement$5.951 bottle

Tools

  • Rotary pedestal vise$791
  • Ceramic bobbin$141
  • Fine-point scissors$161
  • Whip finisher$91
  • Hackle pliers$71
  • Bodkin$51
  • Bobbin threader$41
  • Dubbing wax$41
  • Canvas tool roll$121

Guide

  • Printed recipe and tying stepsIncluded1

Size 8 · With vise & tools · 144 flies

$455.27

$3.16 a fly

Bought separately $517.35 · you save $62.08

Includes Tiemco 5263 · Black mono nymph eyes · and 17 more

Every item in this kit · 19 items

Hooks & beads

  • Tiemco 5263$351 × 100 + 2 × 25 · size 8
  • Black mono nymph eyes$35.706 packs

Thread & wire

  • Olive 6/0 thread$17.706 spools
  • Black small wire$134 spools

Materials

  • Other material: Black and cream barred goose biots$9020 packs · From the recipe row "Antennae"
  • Olive-black mottled dubbing$9020 dispensers
  • Other material: Mottled black Thin Skin$4510 packs · From the recipe row "Wing case"
  • Orange round rubber legs$3510 packs

Finishing

  • Head cement$5.951 bottle

Tools

  • Rotary pedestal vise$791
  • Ceramic bobbin$141
  • Fine-point scissors$161
  • Whip finisher$91
  • Hackle pliers$71
  • Bodkin$51
  • Bobbin threader$41
  • Dubbing wax$41
  • Canvas tool roll$121

Guide

  • Printed recipe and tying stepsIncluded1

The creator

An illustrated portrait for Dekasso (an illustration, not a photograph)

Dekasso

@dekasso

Wherever the truck rolls to a stop.

  • Tidewater Sundown Pale Ale — a river beer by Dekasso
  • Prairie Wildflower Portrait Trucker Hat — a trucker hat by Dekasso
  • Ember Golden Stonefly Nymph — a fly pattern by Dekasso

See everything by @dekasso

Remixes

Remixed from

  1. Speckled Olive Stonefly Nymph — a fly pattern by DekassoSpeckled Olive Stonefly Nymph@dekasso · the original
  2. Sunlit Cobble Stonefly Nymphyou are here

2 remixes of this

Sunlit Cobble Red Stonefly Nymph — a fly pattern by Dekasso@dekassoStreambed Orange Leg Stonefly Nymph — a fly pattern by Dekasso@dekasso

Where this came from

fly pattern · made

2 remixes

50 — from 2 remixes, at the Derby's published weights, since . Views are not counted.

  • stonefly
  • nymph
  • rubber legs
  • realistic
  • olive
  • orange
  • trout
  • biots
  • thin skin
  • pocket water
  • riffles
  • size 8