Creative fly tyer and passionate trout angler, Mike Mercer, has loads
of experience on Western trout streams, and has studied the hatching
behavior of little yellow stoneflies quite well. Recognizing that some
of these emergers tend to hang around lower in the water column during
the early stages of emergence, Mercer designed a heavily weighted fly
that could reach the proper depth while still giving the buggy
appearance of a little yellow stonefly as it prepares to emerge either
in the water or along the shoreline.
Mercer's Tungsten Bead Micro Stone Little Yellow Stonefly is a superb
imitation of a little yellow stonefly in either the mature nymph or
early emerger life stage. This bug's heavy tungsten bead head will keep
it low in the water column, and its slim, yet ultra buggy profile will
keep hungry trout interested from the first swing.
Specifications:
- Little yellow stonefly imitation in the mature nymph or early emerger life stage
- Use as either an impressionistic searching fly or as a realistic imitation when matching the hatch
- Swing 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
- Rolling the fly along the river bottom can also be an effective presentation as little yellow stoneflies tend to remain low in the water column even as they prepare to emerge
- Little yellow stonefly nymphs and emergers 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 and Where to Fish Mercer's Tungsten Bead Micro Stone Little Yellow Stonefly
This relatively small emergent 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. Look for these
bugs in the main drift as well as in 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 Mercer's Tungsten Bead Micro Stone Little Yellow Stonefly
Fish this fly in a variety of water types, but it's most effective low
in the water column; 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, although some sub-species have been known to emerge in
the water just like mayflies! The typical 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 this little yellow stonefly imitation, be sure to cover
both the main drift as well as slower water in eddys and beneath
streamside vegetation. Swing these imitations through these areas using
a standard wet fly presentation and roll it along the bottom to
simulate a little yellow stonefly as it begins its emergence period.
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 Emerger Life Stage
During its emerger life stage, these crawlers are most commonly found
in the medium to fast water of riffles and higher energy current seams.
Prior to and during a hatch, these relatively small and slender
emergers can also be found in low energy backwaters, eddys, and other
shallow streamside environments, especially as emergence approaches.
Little yellow stonefly nymphs thrive among the cool, well-oxygenated
water of rocky riffles so look to the slower water adjacent to these
areas for good action. These nymphs are most vulnerable to trout when
they are either swept up by strong currents or when they leave their
rocky homes to hatch into winged adults from the safety of the
shoreline. Their swimming ability is quite weak and these emerging
nymphs expose themselves by making adventurous crawling trips away from
safety just before emergence and subsequent on-land hatching. Little
yellow stoneflies are an important hatch on many rivers in North
America. These easily distinguishable nymphs can become available to
trout throughout the waters of North America on a year-round basis and
commonly hatch from morning to evening hours.
About the Tyer: Mike Mercer
Mike Mercer is a self-proclaimed “hopeless fly fishing junkie with an
incurable addiction to the vise.” Such honest and direct words are not
surprising from Mr. Mercer, a fly angler and tyer known for his
innovative uses of fly tying materials and creative fly designs. In
fact, it wouldn’t be off the mark to say his fly patterns actually
reflect both his honesty and directness.
Mercer has been fishing all his life, but catching his first smallmouth
bass on a fly rod blew open the proverbial gates, sending him deep into
the fly fishing world. With the help of his grandfather’s old pickup
truck, Mercer explored the fantastic trout water of California’s rich
wilderness areas. With his youthful enthusiasm for traveling with a fly
rod, he actually opened a fly shop of his own. At Mike Mercer’s Rod and
Fly (doubling as the basement of his parents’ house) a fly fisher could
find a selection of custom fly rods, fly fishing and fly tying
magazines, and Mike himself, behind the vise, whipping up box loads of
custom flies.
As a fly fishing guide, writer, travel consultant, and creative fly
tyer, Mercer has been able to form a unique perspective on the sport
and share it with other fly anglers across the world. His fly designs
have appeared in magazine, in books, and with the help of Umpqua
Feather Merchants, anglers across the globe have been able to fish a
Mike Mercer creation hard and with great success in waters near and far.
Mercer’s designs often hinge on an idea that “seems obvious” but from a
design perspective, these are often the very best kinds of ideas.
Mercer continues to create great flies and is a tremendous resource to
the fly fishing and fly tying community.
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.”