Tying a Stimulator Fly

Tying a Stimulator fly can be a bit complex but rewarding. It’s a versatile pattern that can imitate both stoneflies and caddisflies, making it a must-have in a fly fishing arsenal. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to tie a Stimulator fly:

Materials Needed:

1. Hook: 2X Long dry fly hook, sizes 6-16.

2. Thread: Yellow or orange 6/0 or 8/0.

3. Tail: Elk or deer hair.

4. Body:

   • Rear half: Yellow or orange dubbing or floss.

   • Front half: Olive or brown dubbing.

5. Ribbing: Fine gold or copper wire.

6. Hackle: Brown for the body and grizzly hackle for the front.

7. Wing: Elk hair or deer hair.

8. Head: Dubbing to match the front half of the body.

   
   

Tying Instructions:

Step 1: Start the Thread

• Begin by securing the hook in the vise.

• Start your thread at the hook eye and wind it back to the bend of the hook.

  
  

Step 2: Tie in the Tail

• Cut a small clump of elk or deer hair, clean out the underfur, and stack the hair to align the tips.

• Tie in the hair at the bend of the hook, ensuring the tail is about the length of the hook shank.

• Trim the excess hair and wrap the thread back toward the bend.

  
  

Step 3: Tie in the Ribbing and Rear Hackle

• Tie in a piece of fine gold or copper wire at the tail.

• Tie in a brown hackle feather by the stem, with the shiny side facing you.

  
  

Step 4: Dub the Rear Body

• Apply dubbing (yellow or orange) to the thread and wrap it forward, covering the rear half of the hook.

  
  

Step 5: Wrap the Hackle

• Palmer (spiral) the brown hackle forward over the dubbed body.

• Secure the hackle with the ribbing wire, wrapping it counter to the hackle to reinforce the fly.

• Trim any excess hackle and wire.

  
  

Step 6: Tie in the Wing

• Cut a small clump of elk or deer hair, clean and stack it.

• Tie the wing in just ahead of the body, making sure it’s slightly longer than the hook shank.

• Trim the excess hair, being careful not to bulk up the head area.

  
  

Step 7: Dub the Front Body

• Apply olive or brown dubbing to the thread and wrap it forward to the hook eye, creating a tapered body.

  
  

Step 8: Tie in the Front Hackle

• Tie in a grizzly hackle feather by the stem just behind the hook eye.

• Palmer the hackle back over the front body and secure it with a few wraps of thread.

  
  

Step 9: Form the Head

• Build a small head using the remaining dubbing in front of the hackle.

• Make a few tight wraps and whip finish the thread to secure the fly.

  
  

Step 10: Finishing Touches

• Add a drop of head cement to the whip-finished thread to ensure durability.

Your Stimulator fly is now ready for action!