• Hook: TMC 200R, #4-10
• Thread: brown 8/0
• Bead: gold tungsten
• Tail: brown Spanflex
• Rib: medium gold wire
• Flashback: large pearl Flashabou
• Abdomen: brown opossum dubbing
• Thorax: brown hen hackle
• Legs: brown Spanflex

As the high water of runoff dirties waters all over the West, Giant Stonefly (Pteronarcys californica, more commonly known as the Salmonfly) nymphs begin their migration toward the river banks in preparation for hatching. During this migration the nymphs are often washed downstream, and hungry trout wait anxiously to gobble these giant morsels. The Flashback Brown Stonefly is a good imitation of these nymphs. I like to fish them on a short, heavy leader (for instance a 7.5-foot leader tapered to 2X) tight to the banks, where the trout hold out of the heavy flows. I like to trail a #10 Prince Nymph or Copper John fifteen to twenty inches off the rear of my stonefly nymphs. Brown is only one possible color variation. Others include gray and black.

Directions

1.   Slide the bead on the hook and wrap the shank with .015 lead wire.

Step One
2.   Tie in 2 pieces of brown Spanflex about one shank-length long for the tails.
3.   Tie in the gold wire rib.
4.   Secure the Flashabou on top of the hook shank by making a loose thread wrap over the top of the shank and then pulling straight down so your thread is perpendicular to the shank. Repeat this wrap 3-4 time to ensure the Flashabou is secure.
5.   Dub the abdomen two-thirds of the way up the shank.

Steps Two - Five
6.   Pull Flashabou over the top of the dubbing and secure with several tight thread wraps.
7.   Spiral the rib forward, making six to seven turns. Tie off.

Steps Six - Seven
8.   Bring thread forward to the middle of the thorax area and tie in one piece of brown Spanflex on either side of the shank. Bring thread back to the end of the abdomen.
9.   Tie in three brown hen hackle feathers and wrap forward to just behind the bead.
10.   Tie off the hackle and whip finish. Apply a thin coat of head cement to the head.