The Stimulator

Another fly from Alan Bithnal one for the river boys. Stimulator…………….The Fly not the Condom! Randal Kaufmann originally tied as a representation of a stonefly. Though we have stoneflies in the UK they are not so significant hatch here as they are across the pond. This fly is still of interest to us to represent any large insect making a commotion on the surface. Also as a general attractor pattern. Why I have decided to do it here is that it is a big bushy fly that is ideal to hang a small nymph below. A very popular and effective method these days

A word about the hook. When I first came across this pattern it was always tied on a long shank curved hook. However I have since found out that it can be tied on any long shank hook. The hook I am using here is a VMC Long shank with a slight curve. I do not know of a supplier of these hooks. I was given a packet of them a few years ago. You can use the Partridge Klinkhammer hook but not the Klinkhammer Extreme as this has an extra bend in the shank. Start the thread. Not in the usual place but a good third of the way back. This is to mark the place where the rear section of the body will end. Lay down the usual bed of tying thread. No gaps no lumps just touching turns all the way.

The tail, Compara Dun hair is what I have used here. Any fine deer hair tied quite short. Do not trim out the butt ends of the hair.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trim up and tie in a hackle. To tie a good stimulator you need genetic hackle. There is a lot of hackle on this fly and Indian and Chinese capes just will not do it. Here I have used a Red Game saddle feather for the rear hackle. Trim it long and tie in. The colour of the hackle is not fixed you can use whatever you like. Think about it though! You are trying to make something that looks like a Trout should eat it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now its time for another decision, what colour to make the body? Here I have used green beaver. You can use just about any material in any colour.

 

 

 

 

 

Wind the body tying down the deer hair you used for the tail. Had you cut it off before you would have lump under the dubbing.
Now you can trim out the deer hair.

 

 

 

 

 

Wind the hackle forward. Use quite close turns but the dubbing should be visible between them. Tie off at the end of the dubbed section.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lay a bead of thread forward where you will tie the wing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The wing is just a larger bunch of whatever you made the tail of. Tie it in with a loose turn then a slightly tighter one then tighter again the fourth or fifth turn should be very tight. Hold the wing firmly so that it does not spin.

 

 

 

 

Tie in the front hackle. Here I’m using a neck hackle in silver badger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dub the thread with a contrasting colour of dubbing, yellow here but……….

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wind the dubbed thread over the front section of the hook tying down the wing as you go. I do not compress the hair hard here just make firm wraps. This gives the fly a little buoyancy. If you can not keep the wraps firm then sacrifice this by compressing the deer hair rather than making the wraps loose.

At the head trim out the excess wing material.
Wind the hackle forward and tie off at the head. Whip finish.

 

This fly is tied on a size 16! You can tie the wing and tail out of “other” materials on these smaller flies. On the other fly here I have used Coq de Leon. Of course this is less buoyant but on smaller flies this is a sacrifice you have to make. It is worth taking your time when selecting hackles to try to get the two different ones with similar barb length.