Welcome to Troutflies UK

Troutflies UK

Fishing Flies and Tying Products

Free & Fast Delivery

Quality fishing flies

Same day dispatch on orders placed before 3pm

Free UK Postage

Check out our ebay shop for

- Hundreds of fishing flies and accessories

- Fly tying materials

- Tackle

DESCRIPTION

Stoneflys are great for river fishing, choice of sizes

About Us Shipping Payments Returns

Troutflies UK are a leading supplier of fly tying tools and materials as well as supplying a full range of trout flies from the traditional to the more modern creations. As a family run business with years of experience in fishing and retail we are here to provide a service and price range in quality flies which has been missing for far too long. All our flies are made by our own team of tyers, exclusively for us, the quality is outstanding with absolutely NO imports from China!

All our orders are dispatched the same working day if in before 3pm from our family run shop in Morecambe, UK. We use Royal Mail and tracking numbers are uploaded to eBay for your convenience, please allow 1-7 working days for delivery in the UK, 20 working days for International Delivery. If your order has not arrived within this time please do get in touch so we can claim from Royal Mail.

We accept all major credit and debit cards, PayPal and PayPal credit through eBay.

Customers have the right to cancel an order within 14 days of placing the order, or within 14 days of receipt of the goods (whichever is the longer). Customers cancelling their orders will have their payment refunded in full - minus shipping costs - within seven days of the company's receipt of the returned goods. In the event that you receive a faulty or incorrect product please contact us within 30 days of receipt of the goods to arrange a return for exchange or refund.

Fishing a long shank nymph is absolutely brilliant technique - these patterns are incredibly effective for imitating larger aquatic insects and can produce some fantastic results!

What Are Long Shank Nymphs? Long shank nymphs are tied on extended shank hooks (usually 2X or 3X long) to create a more realistic, elongated silhouette that better matches many natural aquatic insects like mayfly nymphs, damselfly nymphs, and stonefly nymphs.

Key Advantages:

Realistic Profile: Better matches the natural length of many aquatic insects
Increased Hook-up Rate: Longer hook provides better hooking potential
Enhanced Movement: The extended body creates more lifelike action in the water
Versatility: Can imitate a wider range of aquatic life

Fishing Techniques:

Weighted Nymph Fishing:

Dead Drift: Let the nymph tumble naturally with the current
Indicator Fishing: Use a strike indicator to detect subtle takes
High-Stick Nymphing: Keep line off water for better contact
Euro Nymphing: Modern tight-line techniques

Stillwater Techniques:

Slow Retrieve: Gentle figure-of-8 or slow strips
Bottom Bouncing: Let it sink and crawl along the bottom
Lift and Drop: Imitate natural nymph movement

When to Use Long Shank Nymphs:

Pre-Hatch: Before mayfly or caddis emergences
Deep Water: When fish are feeding on the bottom
Faster Currents: The weight gets them down quickly
Selective Trout: When fish want a more realistic profile

Rigging Tips:

Weight: Often need additional weight (split shot or weighted flies)
Leader Length: Longer leaders for natural presentation
Tippet Size: Match to fly size and water conditions
Multiple Flies: Can be used as anchor fly in multi-nymph rigs

Seasonal Effectiveness:

Spring: Excellent during pre-hatch periods
Summer: Great for deeper pools and runs
Autumn: Perfect when larger nymphs are active
Winter: Slower presentations in cold water

Pro Tips:

Watch Your Indicator: Takes can be very subtle
Vary Depths: Try different weights and leader lengths
Natural Drift: Avoid drag - let the current do the work
Strike Detection: Set the hook on any unusual indicator movement

Color Selection:

Olive: Most versatile and widely effective
Brown: Natural choice for many waters
Black: Great in low light or dark water
Cream/Tan: Excellent for caddis larvae imitations

Long shank nymphs are honestly some of the most effective patterns you can fish, especially when trout are feeding subsurface on larger aquatic insects. The realistic profile and enhanced movement often make the difference between success and a blank day!

What Are Stoneflies? Stoneflies are large aquatic insects that spend most of their life cycle as nymphs crawling along the bottom of rivers and streams. They're particularly abundant in clean, well-oxygenated water and represent a substantial meal for trout.

Stonefly Life Cycle:

Nymphs: Live underwater for 1-3 years, crawling along rocky bottoms
Emergence: Crawl out of water onto rocks/logs to emerge as adults
Adults: Large, clumsy flying insects that often fall back onto water

Key Characteristics:

Large Size: Usually tied on size 4-10 hooks
Heavy Weight: Often heavily weighted to get down deep
Rubber Legs: Provide incredible lifelike movement
Realistic Profile: Segmented bodies with prominent wing cases

When to Fish Stonefly Patterns:

Nymph Fishing:

Year-Round: Nymphs are available all year
Fast Water: Perfect for tumbling through riffles and runs
Deep Pools: Excellent for bottom-feeding fish
Pre-Emergence: Before adult stonefly hatches

Adult Fishing:

Emergence Period: During stonefly hatches (varies by species and location)
Summer: Peak adult activity during warmer months
Evening/Night: Adults are most active in low light

Fishing Techniques:

Nymph Techniques:

Dead Drift: Let them bounce naturally along the bottom
High-Stick Nymphing: Keep line off water for better contact
Indicator Fishing: Use with strike indicators
Euro Nymphing: Perfect for modern tight-line techniques

Why They're So Effective:

Substantial Meal: Represent a big protein source that big fish can't resist
Year-Round Availability: Nymphs are always present
Triggers Aggression: Large profile often provokes aggressive strikes
Big Fish Magnets: Particularly effective for larger, more cautious trout

Best Waters for Stoneflies:

Freestone Rivers: Rocky, fast-flowing streams
Clean Water: Stoneflies require good water quality
Western Rivers: Particularly abundant in western mountain streams
Tailwaters: Below dams where water stays cool and clean

Seasonal Timing:

Spring: Pre-emergence nymph fishing is excellent
Early Summer: Peak emergence periods for many species
Summer: Adult patterns during hatches
Autumn: Nymphs are active and growing

Pro Tips:

Go Big: Don't be afraid to use large patterns
Fish the Bottom: Nymphs live on rocky bottoms
Watch for Emergence: Look for adults crawling out on rocks
Target Structure: Fish around boulders, logs, undercut banks

Stonefly patterns are honestly "big fish" flies - they're particularly deadly when you're targeting larger, more aggressive trout that are willing to expend energy for a substantial meal. The combination of size, weight, and movement makes them irresistible!