On a past trip to Central Oregon’s Deschutes River at Tethrow Crossing, I was fishing a Midge Dry amongst the cat tail reeds and quiet water. I was picking up a few browns and rainbows. The only other angler visible on the cold January day was fishing above me and having repetitive success. I waded out and sat nearby smoking my briar and after awhile the man walked my way.
I noted his success and asked the usual question of the unsuccessful. He showed me his fly..a smallish black Stimulator (maybe a size 14, 2x or so). He explained he was fishing to match Black Winter Stoneflies. Huh? I knew about the big California Stones of May and the Golden Stones of Summer. However, I had never heard of Winter Stoneflies. He displayed his fly box with Black Elk Hair Caddis and Black Stimulators. He also had black Hare’s Ear Nymphs. He told me to fish the edges of riffles in the quieter water with any smaller black nymph. I had no dark hairwinged flies. The man pulled a black EHC from the box put it into his palm and rolled it into my palm. I thanked him and he departed up the hill toward his pickup.
I fished some ten feet out from shore..not wading…and proceeded to catch a half dozen
or so brown trout with memorable ease. I have added dark hairwing flies to my winter arsenal of midges and bwo’s. I have learned to fish the edges much like other stonefly fishing. These small black or brown stoneflies crawl toward the edges like their larger cousins.
http://www.westfly.com/feature-article/0001/feature_110.php (this is an informative piece by Hafele and Hughes that explains the habitat and appearances of Winter Stones).
SwittersB & Exploring 