Stimulator
Randall Kaufmann's Stimulator is the backbone of Western dry fly fishing. Its long, palmered hackle and elk hair wing ride high through the most turbulent water imaginable. Available in orange (for Salmonflies and October Caddis), yellow (for golden stones), and olive (for caddis), it is an exceptional attractor that brings fish up even when nothing is hatching. Dead-drift or skate it on pocket water.
- Type
- dry fly (Stonefly)
- Hook sizes
- #4–12
- Target species
- trout
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Best seasons
- spring, summer, fall
Materials
- hook: 3X or 4X long dry fly hook #4–12
- thread: Orange or yellow 6/0
- tail: Bull elk hair
- body: Orange or yellow Antron dubbing
- ribbing: Fine gold wire
- body hackle: Brown rooster hackle palmered over body
Tying steps
- Mount a size 4–12 3XL hook; start orange or yellow thread and wrap to bend.
- Tie in a bunch of elk hair as a tail at the bend.
- Tie in a palmered hackle and fine gold wire ribbing at the rear.
- Dub a substantial orange or yellow Antron body from bend to the 2/3 mark.
- Palmer the hackle forward in even spirals; counter-wrap gold wire to reinforce.
- Stack a heavy bunch of elk hair and tie in flat over the body as the wing, tips to the bend.
- Dub a yellow Antron thorax ahead of the wing base.
- Wind grizzly hackle over the thorax; tie off, build small head, whip finish, and cement.