Kaufmann's Stone
Imitates: Black stonefly nymph (Pteronarcys, Acroneuria)
Quick Reference
- Best Sizes
- #6-10
- Best Season
- Year-round (peaks pre-hatch in spring)
- Best Conditions
- Deep fast runs, freestone rivers, salmonfly water, big-fish nymphing
- Water Temp
- 40-65°F
- Recommended Tippet
- 3X-4X fluorocarbon
How to Rig It
Lead fly in a two-fly nymph rig under a big indicator, with split shot 12" above. Tight-line Euro rig also deadly in fast water.
How to Present It
Dead-drift deep along the bottom. Stoneflies live among rocks in the fastest water — you have to bounce the bottom or you're missing the strike zone. Lift on any pause.
Why It Works
Stonefly nymphs live 2-3 years in the river before hatching, so they're available 365 days a year. The realistic profile — split biot tails, segmented body, picked-out legs, gold bead — matches the natural so well that even pressured trout eat it.
History
Tied by Randall Kaufmann in Oregon in the 1970s. Became the gold standard for big stonefly nymphs across the West and is now sold in fly shops worldwide.
Pro Tip
In the 2 weeks before the salmonfly hatch (late May), fish a #6 Kaufmann's Stone deep along undercut banks. Trout staging for the hatch crush them, and you get into trophy fish before the crowds arrive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Kaufmann's Stone imitate?+
A large black stonefly nymph (Pteronarcys or Acroneuria), one of the biggest food items in any Western trout river.
How do you fish a Kaufmann's Stone?+
Dead-drift deep along the bottom of fast runs. Use enough weight to bounce rocks. The biggest fish in the river live in this water.
Black Kaufmann's vs golden stone?+
Black for Pteronarcys (salmonfly nymph) and skwala water; golden for Acroneuria (golden stone) hatches in summer. Carry both.
Not sure if Kaufmann's Stone is right today?
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