Stonefly
Having stoneflies in a river is indicative of very clean, fast moving water. Stoneflies are most prevalent out West but we have clean, fast moving rivers like that here in Missouri and hold stoneflies, for example the North Fork of the White in southern Missouri. We also have found stoneflies in the Current river and the upper Meramec river. Stoneflies are the largest of the aquatic insects although some are tiny like the “snow stonefly”.
The nymph stage of the stonefly can be categorized as a clinger/crawler. They are poor swimmers so if they break loose from what they are clinging to then they are easy pickings for a trout. So fishing the nymph stage by making it bounce and drift near the bottom can be very effective. Most stoneflies crawl out of the water onto rocks, logs, etc. to exit their exoskeleton and become their adult stage. The adult looks very much like the nymph stage except for it’s wings that fall over the length of their back. The adults mate and lay their eggs on the water. This is a time for a feeding frenzy by trout.
“Bugs of the Underworld” – Stoneflies
“Bugs of the Underworld” by Ralph and Lisa Cutter is a phenomenal look at the aquatic insects favored by trout as food.
Buy it in the MidCurrent Store: http://store.midcurrent.com/bugs-of-the-underworld/
Stonefly video
Nymph Stage
stonefly nymph
Rubber Leg Stonefly nymph pattern
North Fork Special Stonefly nymph pattern
Little Black Stonefly pattern
Stonefly 20 incher (1)
Adult Stage
stonefly adult
Yellow Stimulator – Yellow Sally stonefly pattern
Foam Stonefly