Montana copper foam golden stone

What to do when the fishing is not so bueno!

I've been been checking my favorites list (kingfisher, USGS waterdata, snotel, etc.....) of fishing sites more and more lately. Guess that must mean spring is around the corner. Soon it will be time to make the annual spring migration from Colorado to Montana. I love when people ask me "how long will the drive take"? I have done it anywhere between 12 and a half hours, and 6 days, it depends on the river conditions and to a lesser extent the weather.  Without exception the longer the journey takes the better!  Soon it will be time to pack up all the fly tying stuff and head out. I have spent the better part of the winter becoming a foam aficionado of sorts, and have been experimenting with all sorts of colors and thicknesses.

the infamous golden peach

gotta go!

hook- tiemco size 10 6x long
bottom foam- brown 3mm craft foam
top foam- golden 1.5 mm craft foam
thread- coats metallic copper thread
wing- Montana Fly Company etha wing
legs- Montana Fly Company sexy legs
standard elk hair


 One of my favorite   creations is the "Copper foam golden stone" and have been tying them up like crazy.  It goes something like this:

wrap copper thread

poke bottom foam onto hook, wrap to secure

make segments towards eye

a couple wraps on last segment then trim of excess foam

wrap thread to secure the foam to hook

wrap backwards making sure to keep to the existing segments

wrap back to last segment

add legs to last segment (i like them to bow in towards the body)

advance thread one segment tie legs down and glue

add etha-wing, wrap to first segment

i use my large wing cutter, but , only go about halfway (it gets too small
at the far end), then cut as shown

getting correct foam length, make a mark with your thumbnail

turn foam around (thumbnail mark should be just behind the eye,
take one or two wraps to secure foam

advance thread by going under top foam to just behind the eye

secure with one or two wraps

take thread back two turns to in between second and third segments
(again, be sure to wrap thread in existing thread lines)

stack elk hair

trim off weird ends

check the length

tie down and trim forward ends

tie in forward legs

wrap forward to first segment and tie top foam down
(don't tie your legs down here! 

wrap back to leg segment, a little glue here (not too much or it will deform your legs)
tie top foam down with one wrap

i like to put an orange indicator on top, but if you have super vision..........

snip indicator foam

go fish!

bottom view

gold thread version

skwallaness

I have been experimenting with all kinds of colors and thicknesses these are just a few examples of what we do for the Montana spring stonefly season.

Go out and getcherself some!