Umpqua Befus' Wired Stonefly Gold Bead Fly

Overview

The Wired Stonefly is a Brad Befus pattern from Umpqua that packs durability and weight into a slim, realistic stonefly nymph. Umpqua says it will sink like a stone, and it lists the fly for both stonefly and Yellow Sally hatches.

A slim profile matters in a stonefly nymph. It cuts through the current and gets down faster than a bulky pattern, and it looks like the smaller stoneflies and Sallies that trout eat all season. The gold bead adds weight and a bit of flash, and the wire body holds up to fish after fish.

Euro Specs

• Role: Both; 10 as an anchor or top fly, 14 and 16 as droppers.

How to Fish It

• Two-nymph rig: fish the 10 as the heavy fly with a smaller mayfly or midge trailing.
• Euro rig: use it on the point in riffles and pocket water.
• Dry-dropper: the 14 and 16 hang well below a foam dry in summer.
• When: year-round on freestone rivers, and especially before stonefly and Yellow Sally hatches.

Choosing Color and Size

This listing is Golden, a match for golden stoneflies and Yellow Sallies.

Use 10 for golden stone nymphs and as an anchor fly, and 14 or 16 for Yellow Sallies and smaller stones, or as a dropper.