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Brooks' Golden Stone![]() Tying Instructions |
Materials:
Actual Golden Stone Nymph ![]() |
Notes: Major Charlie Brooks is probably best known for his Stonefly patterns which
he developed along the Yellowstone River during his retirement years from the U.S. Air Force. Charlie was
one of the first fly tiers to study the stoneflies from underwater. He noted that a trout will approach a
nymph only if it behaves the same as the naturals. If the fly moved in an erratic way, it would be ignored.
A key aspect to behaving naturally, was that the nymph drifted in an upright position just off the bottom
with it's back always on top. Thus, trout primarily only saw the nymph's back. If a nymph pattern was
to tumble through the current showing contrasting colors of the top and bottom, the trout would shy away
from this presentation. Thus, Brooks' Stonefly patterns were designed by "tying in the round". The prominent Hackles and Ostrich Herl circumference the thorax and there is no distinction between the bottom or top of the fly. These hackles and herl represent the legs and gills as the stonefly is tumbling down a streambed. They are highlighted when contrasted with a darker body and were wrapped twice around the thorax region. Brooks' Stones are also heavily weighted. The lead-free wire makes up much of the bulk of the body. Charlie was known to tie most of his stones with a scruffy appearance and utilized many variations to the pattern. The above pattern with a Rusty Brown coloration of the body can represent both the Salmonfly in sizes 6-8 or the Golden Stonefly nymph in sizes 8-10. The Amber Goose biots for the tail are fine for the Golden Stone but I would use Dark Brown Biots for a Salmonfly Nymph. |
Variations: |
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Brooks' Montana Stone![]() |
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Brooks' Yellow Stone![]() |
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Brooks' Little Yellow Stone![]() |
Materials:
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