Stimulator

Stimulator Dry Fly

The Stimulator is one of the most versatile and effective attractor dry flies ever developed for western trout fishing. Originally designed by Randall Kaufmann, it was built to imitate large stoneflies — golden stones, salmonflies, and yellow sallies — but its buoyant, high-riding profile makes it an outstanding searching pattern even when no hatch is present. Heavily palmered hackle and an elk hair wing keep it floating high through the roughest pocket water and fastest runs.

Available in five proven colorways — Olive, Royal, Yellow, Orange, and Chartreuse/Black — each variation covers a different range of stonefly and caddis species, giving you the right profile for any freestone river, any time of season.

Color Guide

• Olive: Natural, earthy tone matching stonefly and caddis body colors — a go-to on freestone rivers throughout the season; sizes 10, 12, 14
• Royal: High-contrast attractor pattern — exceptional visibility and fish-triggering flash in off-color or fast water; sizes 10, 12, 14
• Yellow: Closely imitates yellow sallies and golden stoneflies — deadly during summer hatches on mountain streams; sizes 10, 12, 14
• Orange: Matches salmonfly and large golden stone coloration — a western staple during the big stonefly hatches of late spring and early summer; sizes 8, 10, 12, 14
• Chartreuse/Black: Bold attractor colorway with high contrast and visibility — effective in off-color water and as a searching pattern when fish are keyed on movement over imitation; sizes 8, 10

Pattern Details

• Style: Stonefly attractor dry fly
• Wing: Elk hair — buoyant and highly visible in fast, broken water
• Hackle: Heavily palmered — maximum flotation in rough pocket water and fast runs
• Best water: Fast-water freestone rivers, pocket water, and mountain streams
• Target species: Trout and cutthroat
• Techniques: Dead-drifted as a searching pattern; effective as an indicator fly in hopper-dropper rigs
• Sizes available: 8, 10, 12, 14 (size availability varies by color)

A western staple that covers stonefly hatches and attractor fishing in a single pattern — the Stimulator floats high, shows well, and produces on freestone rivers all season long.