7 Best Stonefly Nymphs for Bozeman Fly Fishing
Posted by: Alex
Date: 01/22/2026
Nymphing is the most consistent way to catch trout around Bozeman for much of the year, and stonefly attractor nymphs play a big role in that success. Every major river in southwest Montana holds stoneflies, and trout are conditioned to seeing them drift through the system year-round. Because of that, attractor-style stonefly nymphs are some of the best flies to keep in your box year-round.
Seasonal Stoneflies and How We Fish them
Spring stonefly activity in Montana starts with the Skwala hatch. Although highly regarded in the Missoula area, anglers fishing near Bozeman also have the opportunity to chase "big bugs" before the more famous salmonfly and golden stone hatches of early summer.
Skwalas begin to show up in good numbers on the Big Hole, Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin rivers in April.
Salmonflies and golden stones are the two most famous insect hatches for fly fishing in Montana. These insects are big, calorie-rich meals, and trout respond aggressively to them.
Although stonefly hatches wind down by late summer, their nymphs are always present in the rivers and are an important part of the diet of wild trout in Montana. Especially important on freestone rivers like the Gallatin and Yellowstone, anglers fishing throughout Big Sky country are well advised to have a good selection of stonefly nymphs in the fly box, wherever they end up fishing.
Nymph Fishing With Stonefly Attractors
Stonefly nymphs aren’t always meant to be perfect imitations. Instead, they imitate the general size, movement, and profile of a stonefly while adding flash or contrast that helps trout notice them. Around Bozeman, these flies are often used as the lead fly on a double nymph rig, paired with a smaller nymph as a dropper. They work well in spring runoff along edges, summer pocket water, and even winter holding water.
Here are the seven best stonefly attractor nymphs from our Bozeman, MT. fly fishing guides rely on for year-round productivity while fly fishing in Montana.
1. Pats Rubberleg
Pat’s Rubber Legs is an absolute must-have. This fly can imitate any species of stonefly and catches fish on all of the Bozeman, Mt area rivers throughout the year. It’s a solid choice as the lead fly in a tandem nymph rig, helping get smaller flies down while also acting as a large, visible food source that trout recognize and trust. Black, brown, and coffee/black color combinations in sizes 6-12 are the staples.
2. Iron Sally
This Ken Morrish classic is one that our guides count on in June and July, particularly on the Lower Madison River below Beartrap Canyon, when yellow sallys start to come off. It works well on days when flows fluctuate and trout are being picky. This pattern is easy to fish as a lead fly in a nymph rig and does a good job getting attention in both deep runs and soft seams that fish slide into during higher flows.
3. Mega Prince
The Mega Prince is a large attractor nymph that works really well on bigger water like the Yellowstone River, especially after runoff when flows are still high and river clarity is less than optimal. Its size and weight help it get down quickly, which matters when trout are holding deep and the water is still moving fast. Flies like this look similar to a variety of aquatic insects, but not exactly like any one species.
4. TJ Hooker
This modern stonefly attractor works well as a general stonefly nymph imitation when the bih bug nymphs begin to pile up along the banks just before hatching. A great fly for the Gallatin River in the Canyon; it gets down fast in those quick runs. It works well on the Yellowstone, Madison, and Jefferson when anglers want a fly that gets noticed quickly by fish holding tight to cover during high flows
5. Deep Cleaner
This innovative stonefly nymph from the tying bench of John Bond is a simple twist on the classic Pat's Rubberleg. The mop body adds a wiggle that picked over trout just can't resist when the big bugs are active and crawling around. It works great on the Yellowstone River as an anchor fly when fish are holding deep during the dead of winter or mid-summer when nocturnal stones are most active.
6. Restless Stone
The Restless Stone is a solid choice when a little bit of extra movement is essential to get the eat. It fishes well during active stonefly hatches in the spring and early summer, especially when fish are willing to move a bit to eat. Around Bozeman, fly fishing guides and experienced anglers use this in its various color ways as a dropper under a chubby chernobyl or hopper pattern during mid-summer. Similar to the Pat's Rubberleg, we like to keep plenty of these in the fly box in sizes 8-12.
7. Biot Epoxy Stone
The Biot Epoxy Stone from master fly tyer Mike Mercer is the perfect choice for an ultra-realistic golden stone nymph imitation. It's a year-round essential for angler fishing near Bozeman, especially on days when trout are feeding near the bottom and ignoring bigger, bulkier attractors. This go-to fly works well as a lead fly on double-nymph rigs once streamflow levels out after runoff and the rivers clear.
Bozeman Fly Fishing Guide Pro Tip
For a simple setup during salmonfly season, the JJ Special is a great fly to run under a large foam attractor. It has the profile and subtle movement to get noticed below the surface while the dry handles the surface activity, making it an easy and effective way to cover water when fish are keyed in on big bugs.
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