Credit for the Stimulator’s
design is often given to master fly tyer Randall Kaufmann, who promoted
the fly heavily in the western United States. But according to Modesto,
California-based fly tyer and angler, Jim Slattery, the Stimulator is
his Frankenstein; borrowing heavily from Pat Barnes’ 1940s fly the
“Sofa Pillow, and taking its name from a popular New York City-based
punk band. Slattery says he tied the pattern in 1980 to fish what was
then his backyard fly water: the Musconetcong River in New Jersey. Any
way you slice it, the Stimulator is a fantastic emergent and adult
stonefly imitation.
Kaufmann’s Orange Stimulator is an excellent
imitator of that favorite late season hatch of large October caddis.
With its bright orange floss body, stiff elk hair wing, and supportive
hackle, this fly will ride neatly and visibly on the water’s surface –
just where those hungry trout want it. Give it a couple twitches in the
drift and watch aggressive trout go crazy!
Specifications:
- The development of this fly pattern is often credited to master fly tyer Randall Kaufmann, but Modesto, California’s Jim Slattery claims to have tied the first Stimulator in 1980 while living and fishing in New Jersey
- October caddis 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
- Adding several twitches to the fly during the drift can be quite effective
- October caddis are available to trout in the Pacific Northwest and in the Rocky Mountain region from early fall (September) through early winter (November), with the best hatches occurring in October
- Hatches occur consistently and with long duration throughout the daylight hours
- Strikes on October caddis are often far from subtle
- When approaching a shallow water environment with a caddis imitation, be extremely careful not to spook happily feeding trout
- SIZE 8
When and Where to Fish Kaufmann’s Stimulator – October Caddis
This
large sized adult caddis can be fished as either an impressionistic fly
pattern when searching for trout or as a realistic imitation when
matching the hatch. October caddis are active in trout water throughout
the western rivers of North American and are available during early
fall (September) to early winter (November). 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
an October caddis hatch, so be sure to survey the scene thoroughly.
These adults do not possess strong flying ability, however, 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 an emergence, an angler will
easily spot large, orange and brown pupae moving from the rocky depths
to the shallower water along the river bank and eventually to the
surface of exposed rocks and vegetation to hatch into winged adults –
this is the sign to begin fishing the October caddis hatch.
How to Fish Kaufmann’s Stimulator – October Caddis
Fish
this fly in a variety of water types; a popular strategy is to fish
these patterns on a dead drift right through the main current –
drifting an adult October caddis through faster riffles, current seams,
and the slower water just below these areas can yield excellent
results. Adding several twitches during the drift can simulate the
egg-laying movements of these fertilized females, and is another highly
effective fishing technique. October caddis pupae emerge after moving
to the safety of the exposed rocks and vegetation near the shoreline
rather than completing their metamorphosis in the water’s surface film
like mayflies. This pre- and during-emergence behavior renders
shallower and calmer streamside water quite productive just prior to
and during an October caddis emergence and hatch. When these famous
caddisflies are active, 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!
October Caddis
October caddis are large aquatic insects
native to stretches of water in the Pacific Northwest and Rocky
Mountains, with the thickest populations of these orange, brown, and
black caddisflies can be found in the Pacific states. The October
caddis is sometimes referred to as the “fall caddis” and follows the
typical life cycle of incomplete metamorphosis common to all caddis
species. During the larval stage, which is often spent in the faster
water of rocky riffles and runs, October caddis are easy to spot as
they build protective cases from sand and stone grains. After
sufficient time within their rocky cases, these larvae will migrate to
shallower, calmer water at the margins of a river. Here, these bright
orange pupae will wait just a short while before they find an exposed
rock or log to emerge to winged adults. As sexually mature adults,
October caddis are darkly colored and quickly move to streamside
vegetation to mate. Fertilized females wait only a few days to return
to the water’s surface to drop their payload of eggs in a vulnerable
fluttering fashion. This egg-laying behavior is most intense just
before sundown and can provide aggressive trout with a fantastic
dinnertime meal. October caddis most active during the early fall month
of September and continue their hatches through November and are
commonly found from dawn to dusk on trout water in western North
America.
October Caddis Adult Life Stage
After pupal
migration to the exposed rocks and foliage near the shoreline, October
caddis split their distinctive orange cases, emerge as winged adults,
and quickly seek mates under the protective cover of streamside
vegetation. The fertilized females will wait a couple of days before
returning clumsily to the water, quickly darting to the surface to
deposit eggs, making themselves easy targets for aggressive
surface-feeding trout. Many of the male adults will 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.
October caddis in their adult stage are large and easily spotted as
they are quite active during and after their streamside mating time.
Adults of the species take on a distinctive black, dull orange, or
brown coloration and boast long, darkly colored antennae as well as
prominent darkly colored eyes. Look for October caddis adults from
September to November on streams and rivers in western North America.
About the Tyer: Randall Kaufmann
Randall
Kaufmann is considered by many to be in the absolute top tier of modern
fly tyers. He began developing his skills at an early age while fishing
the high altitude streams and lakes of California’s Sierra and the
Rocky Mountains of Wyoming. Kaufmann’s light-hearted, cerebral, and
kind nature helped him make many friends during his fly fishing
journeys through the American West. Tying flies was a way for Randall
and his fishing compatriots to connect, bonding over the long
afternoons and evenings of perfecting tying techniques and dreaming up
new flies for the next time on the river.
Randall has authored
and published a number of fly tying and fly fishing books and manuals,
offering the world’s fly anglers a window on his extensive vault of fly
fishing knowledge and lore. Kaufmann has also licensed several of his
very best fly patterns to Umpqua Feather Merchants, the world’s leading
producer of top quality hand tied flies. As a co-owner of Kaufman’s
Streamborn, Inc. and life-long angling devotee, Randall continues to
provide the fly fishing industry with tremendous products and some of
the very best information available.
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.”