The Stimulator... step-by-step

[Runarsson]

A fly that I doubt many haven't heard of:


THE STIMULATOR

Hook:	Stimulator hook, #6-12
Thread:	Gudebrod 8/0, red
Tail:	Elk
Abdomen:	Fly-Rite Dubbing, rust
Body hackle:	Rooster, brown
Rib:	Silver, fine wire
Wing:	Elk
Thorax:	Fly-Rite Dubbing, golden yellow
Front hackle:	Rooster, grizzly

Step 1

Mount a hook in the vise.


Step 2

Cover the shank with thread and build up a little "bump" just above the barb.


Step 3

Stack a little bunch of elk hair for tail and tie it in immediately in front
of the thread bump. This will spread the hairs at the same time as it
will serve as a little egg sack.


Step 4

Spread the surplus around the hook while you tie it down along the hook
shank. Stop at the point where the thorax will start.


Step 5

Cut the waste with angled cuts so that it won't result in a sharp edge
when you cover the hair butts.


Step 6

Cover the butts and tie in a piece of thin wire. Wrap the thread back
to the tail.


Step 7

Dub the thread with a dubbing of choice. Take it easy with the dubbing.
With the underbody we already have, it's easy to go too far.


Step 8

Make a slim body with the dubbed thread.


Step 9

Tie in a brown rooster hackle.


Step 10

Palmer the hackle backwards.


Step 11

Tie down hackle using the wire. Spiral wrap the wire up the body through
the hackle and wiggle it from side to side to avoid tying down too many
hackle barbs.


Step 12

Tie off the wire in front of the abdomen.


Step 13

Stack and clean a clump of elk hair for the wing. The tips should reach
back to half the tail. Tie it down right in front of the abdomen and let
the hair butts spread around the hook. This will secure them better.


Step 14

Cut the waste and cover the butts with the thread.


Step 15

Tie in a grizzly rooster hackle by the wing base.


Step 16

Dub the thread, again carefully, with a dubbing of choice.


Step 17

Wrap the dubbing up to the hook eye.


Step 18

Spiral wrap the hackle over the dubbing and tie it down in front of it.
Cut the waste.


Step 19

Make a whip-finish, cut the thread and...


DONE!!!

... there you have it. An extremely popular fly, which can represent both
hoppers, stoneflies and caddises. For many, a hands down first choice.



/Nick

[haresear]

Thanks Nick.That is a fine example of the pattern.

Sometimes the wing is tied too thick and the fly twists the leader. I often trim flies with scissors if I am having this problem with the Stimulator or with any other pattern.

I had a look at your website. Apart from getting a good laugh, I really liked your hopper patterns and must give them a try.

Alex

[scotfly]

Excellent fly and step by step Nick, thanks for sharing.  :cheers;

[Runarsson]

Thanks guys.

The wing can be a problem on this fly and especially on "natural bend" hooks, which tend to help with separating it from the fly. This is one of the reasons I double check the length before I tightening the thread when tying it in. Many says "wing reaching the end of the tail"... I do not agree. And I also think that the wing doesn't need to be thick. My own thinking is that the silhoulette "loss" in a sparse wing will be compensated (to a certain degree) by the body hackle... but still let more air through when casting. In the end it will be the trout deciding if it's good enough and since I haven't noticed a difference there, I see no reason to make both the tying and casting harder.

/Nick