Stimulator (dry fly)

For other uses, see Stimulator.

The Stimulator is a dry fly popularized by angler, fly tyer and author Randall Kaufmann to imitate large adult stoneflies.^[1]

Stimulator
Artificial fly
Orange stimulator
Type	Dry fly
Imitates	Adult stoneflies, caddis, grasshoppers
History
Creator	Jim Slattery, Randall Kaufmann
Materials
Typical sizes	6-18 3X long
Typical hooks	TMC 200R, Firehole 718
Thread	6/0, 140 denier
Tail	Deer or Elk
Body	Dry fly dubbing, floss
Wing	Deer or Elk
Ribbing	Dry fly hackle
Hackle	Dry fly hackle
Thorax	Dry fly dubbing
Uses
Primary use	Trout

Origin

The Stimulator pattern is a derivative of earlier stonefly patterns—the Improved Sofa Pillow (1940s) and Yellow-bellied Mattress Trasher (1970s). Many anglers believe the name Stimulator was given to the pattern by Jim Slattery, a Montana angler who renamed his Fluttering Stonefly pattern. Others contend the pattern was derived from the Trude style dry flies developed in 1903. However, the pattern was clearly popularized and promoted by Randall Kaufmann, a fly shop owner, angler and author in Seattle, WA and Portland, OR in the 1980s.^[1]

Imitates

Originally tied to imitate large stoneflies, the Stimulator is also useful to imitate adult caddis, grasshoppers and large mayflies.^[2]

Materials[3]

• Hook: 3X Long Curved Dry Fly Size 6-18
• Thread: 6/0 or 140 denier matching color to pattern
• Tail: Elk, Deer or Moose hair
• Body: Dry fly dubbing matching color to pattern
• Ribbing: Short dry fly hackle palmered, typically grizzly or brown
• Wing: Deer or Elk hair
• Thorax: Dry fly dubbing matching color to pattern
• Hackle: Dry fly hackle, typically grizzly or brown

Variations

As described in Fly Patterns--Tie Thousands of Flies (2008), Randall and Mary Kaufmann^[4]

• Crystal Stimulator (Black, Gold, Green, Orange Peacock, Pearl, Royal Cerise, Tan, Yellow)
• Kaufmann's Stimulator (Green, Orange, Yellow)
• Kaufmann's Stimulator RL (Rubber Legs), (Gray, Lime, Orange, Pearl, Royal, Tan, Yellow)

Stimulator Variations

• 
  Crystal Stimulator Lime Green
• 
  Crystal Stimulator Black
• 
  Crystal Stimulator Peacock
• 
  Yellow Stimulator