Bead Head Stonefly

The Bead-Head Kaufmann's Stonefly Nymph, created by Randall Kaufmann in the early 1990s, has become a quintessential pattern for imitating large stonefly nymphs in Western rivers. Kaufmann, renowned for his contributions to fly tying and authoring influential books like Tying Nymphs (1994), designed this fly to effectively mimic the natural appearance and behavior of stonefly nymphs. The addition of a bead head enhances its sinking capability, allowing anglers to present the fly near the riverbed where stonefly nymphs dwell.

Targeting Non-Stonefly Streams: Even in waters without significant stonefly populations, this fly can be an excellent “scout” fly when exploring new waters.