A small, vinyl-ribbed stonefly representative with biot tails, a dubbed body, turkey wingcase and soft hen legs.
The source index labels a “Vinyl Baby Stone” photo without materials. This size-12 version follows the smallest published size of Bill’s Simple Stonefly Nymph, whose complete dressing uses vinyl rib. It is a representative small vinyl stonefly, not an identified original for the indexed photo.
Work through the numbered steps in order, using the materials list and written proportions as your guide.
01
Seat bead and weight
Slide a small black bead to the hook eye. Add a few compact lead-free wire turns behind it, flatten the wraps slightly and cover the thorax area and remaining shank with black thread.
Bench note Keep the front clear enough for antennae and the finish.
02
Spread the biot tails
Dub a small black bump just above the bend. Tie one black goose biot on each side against the bump, splaying their tips rearward to about one third of the hook-shank length.
Bench note The dubbing bump helps separate the two tails.
03
Dub and rib the abdomen
Anchor small black vinyl V-rib at the tail base. Dub a tapered black abdomen forward to the front third, then wind the vinyl rib over it in open, even turns and secure it.
Bench note Keep the half-round rib from twisting as it crosses the body.
04
Set wingcase and hen
Tie a narrow turkey-tail slip on top at the abdomen front with its free length pointing rearward. Tie in black hen hackle beside it for the future legs, leaving space before the bead.
Bench note Keep the turkey centered over the abdomen-to-thorax join.
05
Build thorax and legs
Dub a fuller black thorax to just behind the bead, then spiral the hen hackle through it in several open turns. Secure the hackle at the front and stroke its fibers down and back as legs.
Bench note Avoid burying the soft fibers under the final dubbing turns.
06
Close case and finish
Pull the turkey slip over the thorax and tie it down behind the bead. Add two short black biots as forward antennae, trim waste, whip finish and clear the hook eye.
Bench note The final antennae should not block the hook eye.
Beyond the bench
On the water.
Present the fly near the bottom in suitable fast, oxygenated stonefly water. The source notes that nymphs become especially available as they move toward the bank to emerge; adjust weight to obtain a useful drift.