There's often no greater trout fishing action during the late summer
months than the magical hours when little yellow stonefly adults bob
and weave on the surface of riffles, cuts, and seams below rocky
structure. These bugs sit very high in the surface film, and when
things are hot, it can look like a mini regatta of yellow-sailed boats
is ripping through the current! Trout love these moments, and a
prepared angler loves them more.
Ralph Cutter, a California-based angler, fly tyer, and bug-obsessed
entomologist, is no stranger to fishing the meat of a little yellow
stonefly hatch, and he's created one of the very best imitations in the
game.
Cutter's Little Yellow Stonefly, at first glance may appear to be a
bird's nest of sorts, but it's an incredibly effective imitation of an
adult little yellow stonefly. With its shock of bright yellow deer hair
and heavily hackled body, it wouldn't be a stretch to say it floats
like a butterfly and stings like a bee.
Specifications:
- This fly was designed by California-based angler and fly tyer, Ralph Cutter
- A fantastic floater, it features a shock of yellow deer hair and a heavily hackled body
- Little yellow stonefly imitation in the adult life stage
- Use as either an impressionistic searching fly or as a realistic imitation when matching the hatch
- Drift the fly through different water types; faster riffles and shallower water near the banks of a river with moderate to slow currents are the most productive water types for this fly
- Little yellow stonefly nymphs are available to trout all year long in trout water throughout North America
- Most prolific hatches occur during warmer months (June – August)
- Hatches occur consistently and with long duration throughout the daylight hours
- Strikes on little yellow stoneflies are often far from subtle because trout must often be prepared to rip these strong crawlers from their rocky homes
- When approaching a shallow water environment with an adult stonefly, be extremely careful not to spook happily feeding trout – stalking and fly presentations should be stealthy and subtle
- SIZE 16
When and Where to Fish Cutter's Little Yellow Stonefly
This relatively small adult stonefly can be fished as either an
impressionistic fly pattern when searching for trout or as a realistic
imitation when matching the hatch. When searching, fish this fly in
riffles, well defined current seams, areas below faster currents, and
near exposed rocky structure and streamside vegetation. Shallow water
near the river bank will also be productive when fishing a little
yellow stonefly hatch, so be sure to survey the scene thoroughly.
Little yellow stoneflies are available to trout all year long but are
most active during the warmer spring and summer months (June – August).
These stoneflies are active throughout the day in cool, well-oxygenated
water, and are commonly found anywhere trout thrive. These adults do
not possess strong flying ability and are often swept into the main
current’s drift – look for these floating specimens in the main drift
as well as shallower, less energetic water near sheltered areas. Prior
to and during emergence, an angler will easily spot little yellow
stonefly nymphs crawling from the rocky depths to the shallower water
along the river bank and eventually to the surface of exposed rocks and
vegetation to shed their shucks and hatch into winged adults – this is
the sign to begin fishing the little yellow stonefly hatch.
How to Fish Cutter's Little Yellow Stonefly
Fish this fly in a variety of water types; because of their aggressive
and migratory feeding nature, strong crawling ability, and widespread
proliferation in all kinds of trout water, just about anywhere within a
healthy aquatic ecosystem can be prime real estate for little yellow
stoneflies. Stonefly nymphs emerge after crawling to the safety of the
shoreline rather than shedding their nymphal shucks in the water’s
surface film like mayflies. This pre- and during-emergence behavior
renders shallower streamside water quite productive just prior to and
during a little yellow stonefly emergence and hatch. When fishing with
an adult little yellow stonefly imitation, be sure to cover both the
main drift as well as slower water in eddys and beneath streamside
vegetation. Dead drift these adult imitations through these areas using
a standard dry fly presentation. Little yellow stoneflies, often
referred to as “Yellow Sallies,” can make themselves available
throughout the day all year long, but are most prevalent during the
warmer months of June through August. Trout prey on them hungrily and
voraciously, so don’t be surprised when you feel an aggressive take –
set the hook confidently and with care if you happen to be fishing with
lighter leaders and tippet material!
Little Yellow Stonefly
Little yellow stoneflies (or “Yellow Sallies”) are relatively small
stoneflies that occur with great regularity and in large numbers in
trout waters throughout North America. These pale yellow to light brown
crawling nymphs are widely distributed throughout rivers and streams,
and this broad distribution makes the species and important staple of
any North American trout’s seasonal diet. During the larval stage,
which commonly lasts about 1 year, little yellow stoneflies spend the
balance of their time using their slender, but strong legs, and low
center of gravity to crawl or “creep” about the rocky bottoms of small
to large rivers and spring creeks with moderate to fast flow rates. As
nymphs, little yellow stoneflies display long and slender tails and
antennae and can sometimes display complex patterns along their pale
yellow to brown backs. As winged adults, these insects take on a creamy
yellow or milky straw color and boast the flat wings common to all
adult stoneflies. The little yellow stonefly follows the life stages of
a typical stonefly life cycle and hatches across North America with
great availability throughout the year with more prolific hatches
occurring during the warmer months of June through August.
Little Yellow Stonefly Adult Life Stage
After migration to the foliage and rocks of the shoreline, little
yellow stoneflies shed the remainder of their nymphal shucks and
quickly find mates under the protective cover of streamside vegetation.
The fertilized females will then fly clumsily above the water, quickly
darting to the surface to deposit eggs, making themselves easy targets
for aggressive surface-feeding trout. Many adults will also fall from
the safety of streamside trees, weeds, and other vegetation. These
unfortunate bugs wind up in swept along with the main current and will
often collect in the slower water of eddys and along deeper cut banks.
Little yellow stoneflies in their adult stage are easily spotted as
they are quite active during and after their streamside mating time.
Adults of the species take on a distinctive pale yellow coloration and
boast barred antennae and tails as well as large darkly colored eyes.
About the Tyer: Ralph Cutter
An avid outdoors-man, passionate educator, and legendary contributor to
the sport of fly fishing, Ralph Cutter proudly calls California's
Sierra his home. Cutter has been fishing, guiding, and teaching others
about the sport for years and is one of the most respected anglers in
the west. He's always been a true ambassador for the sport and has
devoted his life to the science and challenge fly fishing provides. He
is a famous fly tyer with many of his designs in production and his
efforts at increasing anglers' understanding of aquatic ecosystems and
the organisms (not simply trout) that inhabit them is unrivaled. Cutter
has written several books including the classic, "Sierra Trout Guide."
His most recent contribution is through a DVD titled, "Bugs of the
Underworld," a fascinating look at the life cycles of the major aquatic
insects. Ralph's passion is a testament to the importance of angling
for many people and his work will continue to help others improve their
knowledge of the sport for years to come.
Leland on Umpqua
In
1972 a man named Dennis Black and his fly tying skills found themselves
in high demand. Mr. Black, then a professional production fly tyer, was
famous in the industry for his unsurpassed skill and speed with
whipping up tremendously beautiful and precisely constructed flies. It
wasn’t long until this young fly tying superstar realized that he ought
to take his consistent approach to quality to the next level. Shortly
after this realization, a small army of fly tyers had banded together
to support Mr. Black’s vision. With the likes of Dave Whitlock, Jack
Dennis, and Andy Puyans, Mr. Black was officially in business.
Dennis
Black’s new company Umpqua Feather Merchants quickly extended its reach
and fly production capabilities with expansion into India, Sri Lanka,
and Thailand, where the world’s first and full blown “fly tying
factories” were built. Since those early days, only the highest
standard of excellence has marked Umpqua and this commitment to quality
and efficiency continues to spur the company forward. Dennis Black’s
innovative vision for “fly production” has truly revolutionized how the
fly industry operates and has ultimately made the majority of
production flies better. From the first “royalty system” for rewarding
the most creative professional fly tyers to streamlining production
systems and offering a range of other products, Umpqua Feather
Merchants just seems to “do it all.”
Today, Umpqua Feather Merchants
is without a doubt the world’s best and most prolific supplier of hand
tied fly fishing flies as well as fly tying hooks and materials, and
they recently got better! Umpqua’s brand new, state of the art
headquarters in Louisville, Colorado marks another paradigm shift in
the way fly tying business is done. From its vast warehouse to its
specially designed inventory management and tracking system, Umpqua is
poised to continue its energetic trajectory and lead the way for the
next generation of flies and fly tyers.
Umpqua on Umpqua
"As
you may or may not know, we're the largest producer of quality
hand-tied flies in the world. We also make available through your local
fly shop a wide array of the finest fly-tying hackle and Tiemco hooks.
At Umpqua we offer everything the angler needs to a have a first
class fishing experience. (Everything that is, but the water and the
fish.)"
Umpqua on Dennis Black and the “Obvious Quest”
“The
idea first took shape in the hands of our founder, Dennis Black, back
in 1972. As a fast and facile professional fly tyer, Dennis was known
for his skill and speed at producing hundreds of dozens of flies each
year for the larger mail order houses. But he was also quick to realize
how fast the demand for excellent flies would outstrip the abilities of
cottage industry types like him.
The Obvious Quest: To create
excellent flies in sufficient supply – without sinking his standards.
In response, Dennis developed (with characteristic care) a methodical
plan: First, he enlisted the tying expertise of the likes of Dave
Whitlock, Jack Dennis, Andy Puyans and others, to help him set the
standard of excellence for Umpqua flies.
Next, Dennis established the
first of what would eventually be five separate fly-tying “factories,”
first in India, then in Sri Lanka, and finally in Thailand. The primary
focus at each of these factories was on producing the very best fishing
flies possible, constructed of the very best materials available. From
the beginning, the quantity of flies produced was secondary to the
quality and excellence of each fly pattern. These high standards were
assured by the personal involvement of the fly designers themselves,
and by the ever-increasing skill, imagination and creativity of the
Umpqua production fly tiers. Today, you will find no flies more
skillfully tied than those available from Umpqua Feather Merchants.
Finally, Dennis created a system of royalty payments, to reward
professional tyers like Whitlock, Lefty Kreh, Randall Kaufman, Larry
Dahlberg, and Bob Popovics for uniquely good patterns.
The Result:
Today, Umpqua produces umpteen thousand dozen flies, from micro-scopic
midge imitations to the huge patterns favored by marlin and sailfish.
And the "Umpquality" – you’ll see for yourself.”