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Step 1
Experiment with the stone fly from mid-June to early July. While this is when the stone fly is in its native environment, it can be used year round. These flies prefer to live around stones and rocks located at the bottoms of lakes, hence their name. Stone flies require abundant oxygen in the waters they live in. Look for them around waters that have fast movement. The flies range in color from bright yellow to black.
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Step 2
Learn the behavior of the stone fly. They tend to crawl around on rocks. Fish strike on stone flies as they fall off the rocks and into the water. Cast upstream and let the fly sort of skid, tumble and roll its way downstream.
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Step 3
Present the female stone fly as she's laying her eggs. This is done with a splashing, spluttering flashing motion. Replicating this movement is guaranteed to agitate fish and get them to strike almost immediately.
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Step 4
Utilize the stone fly, especially in its nymph stage when its floating around under the water. Trout especially consume a huge amount of them during this time.
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Step 5
Present nymph stone flies as they crawl around on the lake floor. Use the dead drift approach off the bottom with a split-shot approximately 3 feet off the line. Steelhead often snack as they are on their spawn run, and feeding off the lake floor is common. Steelheads prefer stone flies at any stage. However, these fish are are accustomed to seeing large stone flies, so consider using adult flies as lures.
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Step 6
Observe the waters to determine which casting method is best. Typically, the dead drift or high sticking casting is best. High sticking is used mostly during the winter months for steelhead. This method utilizes the leader by pulling the least amount of wet line through the guides.
