Our Stonefly Flies
- Kaufman Stonefly, Size 8: The go-to stonefly nymph for most US trout rivers. Rubber legs and a weighted body match the crawling movement of a real nymph hugging the bottom in current. $11.60 for 6 ($1.93 per fly). Free standard ground shipping on every order.
- Beaded Brown Stonefly, Size 12: Built for clear water and slow tailout sections where trout have more time to look. The metal bead head catches light the way a real air bubble does on a natural nymph. Size 12 matches smaller species like the Yellow Sally and little black stonefly. $12.65 for 6 ($2.11 per fly).
- Estaz Stonefly, Metallic Blue, Size 8: Built for stained and off-color water. The metallic Estaz chenille body creates flash that trout can track when visibility drops. $11.10 for 6 ($1.85 per fly).
- Estaz Stonefly, Metallic Royal Blue, Size 6: Sized for large Western rivers with salmonfly and golden stone hatches. The size 6 profile matches the 2- to 3-inch naturals that swim in rivers like the Madison and Deschutes. $11.10 for 6 ($1.85 per fly).
- Pink Estaz Stonefly Fly Tying Kit, Size 6: All pre-measured materials to tie the largest stonefly profile in the Wild Water lineup. Hook, bead, dubbing, and rubber legs included. $20 per kit.
How to Choose the Right Stonefly Pattern
Two things drive most stonefly fly decisions: water type and water clarity. Get those two right and the rest falls into place.
Freestone Rivers and Fast Water
Start with the Kaufman Stonefly in size 8. The rubber legs and weighted body imitate a real nymph crawling along the bottom in current. Cast it upstream, let it sink fast, and keep a tight line as it drifts through runs and pocket water. (If you've fished nymphs before, the Kaufman is exactly the fly you want on a rocky freestone river.) The Kaufman sinks without any added split shot, the small pinch-on weights some anglers clip to their leader to get a fly down faster, which makes rigging simpler.
Clear Water and Slow Runs
Go with the Beaded Brown Stonefly in size 12. In clear, low water, trout get a long look at what's drifting by. The metal bead head catches light the way a natural air bubble does on a real nymph. Fish it under a strike indicator, a small floating marker clipped to the leader that shows when a trout takes. Tailouts, slow pockets, and glassy flats are where this pattern earns its keep.
Stained or Off-Color Water
Reach for the Estaz Stonefly in metallic blue. When visibility drops after rain or runoff, color and contrast matter more than a realistic profile. The metallic chenille body gives trout something to track when more natural-looking patterns go invisible in the murk.
Large Western Rivers with Major Hatches
Use the size 6 Estaz Stonefly in metallic royal blue. Rivers like the Madison, Deschutes, and Gallatin carry salmonfly and golden stonefly nymphs that reach 2 to 3 inches before hatching. The size 6 puts a big, flashy profile in front of trout that are keyed in on large naturals near the bottom in the weeks before those hatches kick off.
Tying Your Own
The Pink Estaz Stonefly Kit at $20 includes pre-measured materials to tie 10 size 6 stonefly nymphs, plus a spool of thread and a sample tied fly to match against. At that yield, it costs about the same per fly as buying ready-made. The real case for tying your own is control: you can adjust body thickness, leg length, and bead size to match what your local river is actually holding. Watch the step-by-step tying video before you start.
Why Buy Stonefly Flies from Wild Water
Most fly shops and major online retailers price individual stonefly nymphs at $2.25 to $3.00 per fly. Wild Water stonefly flies run $1.85 to $2.11 per fly in 6-packs, with free standard ground shipping included on every order. That difference adds up fast on a real starting order.
A typical starting order of four patterns (24 flies):
- At fly shop pricing, $2.50 average per fly: $60.00
- At Wild Water pricing, $2.00 average per fly: $48.00
- Your savings: $12.00
Every order ships free via standard ground (4 to 7 business days). Order before noon EST on any business day and it ships that same day via UPS or USPS. Expedited shipping is available if you need flies faster: 3-day for $15, 2-day for $20, and next-day for $30.
Still deciding? Call 585-967-3474. Tell us what river you're fishing and what species you're targeting, and we'll get you to the right pattern fast.