Brook's Stonefly Nymph

The Brooks Stonefly, originally known as the Brooks Montana Stone, was designed by Charles E. Brooks during the 1960s in West Yellowstone, Montana. Brooks sought a heavy, durable pattern that could reach trout feeding near the bottom in fast, boulder-strewn rivers like the Madison and Gallatin. Inspired by the large stonefly nymphs abundant in Western waters, the fly emphasized weight and silhouette over movement—characteristics that made it revolutionary for its time. It was among the earliest patterns built specifically to fish deep, challenging the norm of floating dry flies that dominated the era.

Try a Mid-Column Retrieve: While this is primarily a bottom-drifting fly, try fishing it mid-column by stripping it in slow, consistent motions. This mimics a stonefly nymph attempting to ascend to the surface to hatch, triggering strikes from trout positioned higher in the water.