Dry Flies
Dry Flies

Stimulator

The attractor dry fly that mimics everything big on the surface.

Randall Kaufmann's Stimulator is a large, buoyant attractor dry fly that suggests adult stoneflies, caddis, and grasshoppers simultaneously. Its palmered hackle and elk hair wing provide incredible floatation, making it the ideal indicator fly in a dry-dropper rig. When big bugs are on the water, the Stimulator is the first fly out of the box.

History & Lore

Randall Kaufmann developed the Stimulator in the Pacific Northwest, drawing on the Sofa Pillow and similar stonefly patterns. It quickly became the standard adult stonefly imitation west of the Mississippi. Its success lies in its buoyancy and ability to suggest multiple food forms at once.

Variations

Rubber Legs Stimulator

Rubber legs add movement and suggest stonefly legs.

Hi-Vis Stimulator

Fluorescent post for tracking in whitewater.

Mini Stimulator

Sized down to #14-16 for yellow sally and caddis.

How to Fish It

Fish the Stimulator as a dry-dropper indicator fly, suspending a nymph 18-24 inches below. It excels in pocket water and riffles during stonefly season. Dead drift it through heavy water, or skitter it to imitate an ovipositing stonefly.

When to Use

During stonefly hatches (salmonfly, golden stone, yellow sally) and as a high-floating attractor in summer pocket water. Also a great hopper stand-in.

Materials

Hook
TMC 200R, #8-14, 3x long
Thread
Uni 6/0, orange
Tail
Elk hair
Body
Orange or amber dubbing
Thorax
Yellow or fluorescent green dubbing
Hackle
Grizzly, palmered over body and thorax
Wing
Elk hair, tent style
Rib
Fine gold wire

Tying Video

Tying Steps

1

Start thread and tie in elk hair tail fibers at the bend. Tie in hackle and gold wire.

💡 Elk hair tail provides buoyancy from the rear.

2

Dub an orange or amber body from bend to midshank. Palmer the hackle forward and rib with gold wire.

💡 The two-tone body is a Stimulator signature.

3

Tie in a stacked elk hair wing at midshank, tent-style.

💡 Wing should extend to the bend of the hook.

4

Tie in a second hackle at the wing tie-in point.

💡 This front hackle should be one size larger for extra float.

5

Dub a yellow or green thorax from wing to eye. Palmer the second hackle through the thorax.

💡 The color contrast between body and thorax is intentional.

6

Secure hackle, trim butts, whip finish and cement.

💡 A well-tied Stimulator should float like a cork even after multiple fish.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size Stimulator should I use?

The Stimulator is most commonly tied in sizes 8–14. During stonefly hatches (salmonfly, golden stone, yellow sally) and as a high-floating attractor in summer pocket water. Also a great hopper stand-in.

What does a Stimulator imitate?

The Stimulator primarily imitates adult stoneflies, salmonflies, golden stoneflies, large caddis, grasshoppers. Fish the Stimulator as a dry-dropper indicator fly, suspending a nymph 18-24 inches below. It excels in pocket water and riffles during stonefly seaso

What materials do I need to tie a Stimulator?

Key materials include: Hook, Thread, Tail, Body, Thorax, Hackle, Wing, Rib. Tie in an elk hair tail and wing, dub a two-tone body with palmered hackle, and add a robust thorax

How do you fish a Stimulator?

Fish the Stimulator as a dry-dropper indicator fly, suspending a nymph 18-24 inches below. It excels in pocket water and riffles during stonefly season. Dead drift it through heavy water, or skitter it to imitate an ovipositing stonefly.

Pattern Details

Category
Dry Flies
Sizes
8–14
Colors
Orange, Yellow, Olive, Black
Hook Styles
3x long dry fly, 2x long dry fly
Imitates
adult stoneflies, salmonflies, golden stoneflies, large caddis, grasshoppers
Water Types
freestone
Origin
Randall Kaufmann, Pacific Northwest

Target Species

rainbow troutbrown troutbrook troutcutthroat trout