
TYING A BLACK ELITE STONEFLY NYMPH
The Black Elite Stonefly Nymph is a simple fly, but it can take time to complete because of the antennas, tails, and legs made of goose biots. I think it is worth it. The fly is an excellent imitation of the stonefly nymph, and it is heavily weighted so that you can fish it deep and in fast-flowing streams.
Materials for Black Elite Stonefly Nymph
Part: | Materials: | Size/Color: |
Hook: | Daiichi | 1730 #12 |
Bead: | Tungsten | Furrow Gold 3.5 mm |
Weight: | Lead Wire | 0.010” |
Thread: | Veevus | Black 14/0 |
Tag: | Lagartun | Mini Flatbraid Fl Chartreuse |
Tail: | Goose Biots | Black |
Body: | UNI Yarn | Black |
Rib: | UTC Wire | Gold SM |
Wingcase: | Pheasant Tail | Black |
Thorax: | Ice Dub | UV Black |
Legs: | Goose Biots | Black |
Video Instructions on How to Tie a Black Elite Stonefly Nymph
Video coming soon.Slideshow on How To Tie a Black Elite Stonefly Nymph
Step 1 – Make the Antennas, Tag, and Tail
The first step is to tie in the two antennas. The length should be approximately half of the hook shank. Tie in the goose biots curving away from the hook, and tie off your tying thread with a whip finish or a few half-hitches. Put the tungsten bead onto the hook. Make a decent amount of wraps with the lead wire to add weight to the fly.
Tie in your tying thread and tidy up the thorax area. Make even wraps until your tying thread aligns with the hook’s barb. Tie in the Mini Flatbraid on top of the hook. Make a few wraps with the Mini Flatbraid. The tag should be a bit bulky to spread the tail fibers.
Tie in the goose biots with the convex side out, curving away from the hook. The length should be a bit longer than the antennas. Tie down all the excess materials and taper the body.
Step 2 – Make the Body
Tie in the gold rib on top of the nymph. Continue with tying in the UNI Yarn for the body. Make even wraps with the UNI Yarn to build up the body. Make sure the body has an even taper. Tie off the UNI Yarn at a point just before the bend in the hook’s shank. The thorax is supposed to be quite big on stoneflies. Complete the body with a few wraps of the gold wire.
Step 3 – Make the Thorax and Legs
Tie in the pheasant tail fibers for the wingcase. Make sure that the fibers are evenly spread out over the upper part of the thorax.
Make a small dubbing noodle and build up a small dubbing ball on the hook shank. The dubbing ball will spread out the goose biots we will use for legs. Tie in one goose biot on each side of the hook. The first pair of legs should reach towards the base of the tail.
Make another dubbing noodle and build up a second dubbing ball to spread the second pair of legs. Tie in the goose biots curving away from the hook. The second pair of legs should be a bit shorter than the first.
Make a third dubbing noodle and build up a new dubbing ball. Tie in the third and last pair of legs. Fold the pheasant tail fibers over the thorax to create the wingcase. Remove any excess. Make a new dubbing noodle to tide up the head area. Complete the fly with a whip finish or a few half-hitches and some varnish.
How to Fish the Black Elite Stonefly Nymph
The stonefly nymphs are known to be tempting to trouts, and the Black Elite Stonefly Nymph is a good imitation of these big mouthfuls. This nymph will dive into the deeper pools and fast-flowing waters with a heavy tungsten bead and lead wire. Cast it upstream when you are searching for fish or have found one. The nymph can be used on its own or combined with a smaller nymph in a tandem rig.

