Little Yellow Stonefly Nymph

Materials

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Hook TMC 200R #14-16
Thread Danville Yellow 6/0
Head Danville Yellow 6/0
Weight 0.015 Leadfree wire
Body Yellow Haretron Dubbing
Thorax Yellow Haretron Dubbing
Tail and Antennae Natural Pheasant Tail Fibers
Shellback Natural Pheasant Tail Fibers
Wingcase Turkey Tail
Legs Partridge Fibers
Ribbing Copper Wire
Little Yellow Stonefly Nymph
Little Yellow Stonefly Nymph
Mike Mercer

Mike Mercer

Little Yellow Stonefly Nymph

The Little Yellow Stonefly Nymph was designed by Mike Mercer of Redding, CA. Little Yellow Stoneflies, also known as Yellow Sallies, belong in the Isoperla genus of Stoneflies. They normally hatch between mid-May to August. They are found in many Sierran Freestone streams living in the riffles and runs of moderate to fast flows at mid-to-high elevations. The nymphs can live for 1-2 years within the bottom gravel of the streams.

Migration

Upon hatching, the little yellow stonefly nymphs crawl onto shore near dusk time and can be found on rocks and tree trunks. There is one species that does emerge directly in the water similar to a mayfly. During this migration, the Little Yellow Stone nymphs are common in the stream drift and nymph patterns are very effective.

Materials

Mercer’s pattern achieves a slender abdomen using dubbed Haretron, with the use of divided tails and antennas, and differentiating the wingcase and shellback with different width materials. Mercer’s pattern generally uses grouse for the legs, although I substituted Mallard Flank instead. Another Mercer touch, that you might see, is a drop of epoxy on the wingcase which also gives a more realistic representation of this feature when seen underwater.

 

Variations