This is probably my favourite fly for dry fly in the dark on Stillwater, and interestingly is also surprisingly successful during a rise to spent caenis.
The pattern given is one of my favourites along with an all black version.
Instructions assume right-handed tyers
HOOK - Should be a curved stimulator hook, but I?ve found it makes no difference so I use any long shank hook. Typically the Kamasan B800 in sizes 4 - 16
THREAD - Fire Orange 6/0
PALMER HACKLE -Red Game
RIB - Oval Gold
TAIL ? Bull Elk
BODY ?Dirty Yellow Seals Fur
WING ? Bull Elk
HEAD HACKLE - Grizzle
HEAD/THORAX - Red Seals Fur
STEP 1
Mount the hook in the vice, attach thread and wind to position shown, catching in the rib under the hook shank as you go.
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t149/scot2flyfish/stimulator.jpg)
STEP 2
Take a bunch of Bull Elk and after combing out the under-fur, align the tips in a stacker then offer up for length and tie in. The tail on the Stimulator should be quite short.
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t149/scot2flyfish/stimulator-1.jpg)
After tying in, trim the butts to the length of the body and over-wrap with thread. Then add a generous amount of dubbing to the thread.
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t149/scot2flyfish/stimulator-2.jpg)
STEP 3
Wrap the dubbed thread to form the body.
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t149/scot2flyfish/stimulator-3.jpg)
STEP 4
Tie in the hackle.
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t149/scot2flyfish/stimulator-4.jpg)
Then wrap down the body (Palmer) Tie in the hackle by counter wrapping with the rib.
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t149/scot2flyfish/stimulator-5.jpg)
STEP 5
Select a bunch of Elk Hair, comb the under fur and waste then align tips in a stacker (or not if you prefer) Then mount on the shank as shown. Typically the Stimulator wing should reach the end of the body, but for aesthetic reasons I prefer it slightly longer.
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t149/scot2flyfish/stimulator-6.jpg)
Trim the butts at an angle.
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t149/scot2flyfish/stimulator-7.jpg)
STEP 6
Cover the butts with tight wraps. Then tie in the hackle as shown and add a small amount or dubbing to the thread.
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t149/scot2flyfish/stimulator-8.jpg)
STEP 7
Wrap the dubbed thread to form the head area.
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t149/scot2flyfish/stimulator-9.jpg)
STEP 8
Wrap the head hackle in open turns towards the head and tie off.
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t149/scot2flyfish/stimulator-10.jpg)
STEP 9
Trim the waste, whipfinish and varnish for the completed fly.
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t149/scot2flyfish/stimulator-11.jpg)
Although this is a large meaty fly, when you tie it try not to over do it.
When fishing this fly use a stout leader, the takes are more often than not savage and because it is such a large bushy fly, leader twist can be a major problem.
For the black version, simply use a Black hackle, Seals fur and Black Elk Hair, but keep the Grizzle Hackle and Red Seals Fur for the head.
My two favourites side by side. I have tied the Black Stimulator on a Partridge YK12ST
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t149/scot2flyfish/stimulator-12.jpg)
Yes and believe it or not they can score really well on a bright day pulled on a sinking line at Mayfly time on the big loughs over here in Ireland .
SM .
Scotfly is right about leader twist with this pattern. If you keep the wing low and don't use too much hair, you can alleviate this to an extent.
A bit of background on the Stimmy. It was originally tied to imitate the egg-laying Stoneflies like the Salmonfly and Golden Stone found in the foothills of the Rockies. These are seriously big flies and occur in huge numbers coincideing with the "run-off", or snow melt from the Rockies. I have seen the shucks from these beasties festoonining every available exposed rock. It must be awesome to be there when they are on the water.
Alex