Streamside Imitations by J Deshefy Jr

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Streamside Imitations by J Deshefy Jr A page created to document my adventures in fly fishing and fly tying.

Happy New Year! Let’s kick off the new year with a winter steelhead fly giveaway.Last year my goal was to do a few givea...
01/01/2026

Happy New Year!

Let’s kick off the new year with a winter steelhead fly giveaway.
Last year my goal was to do a few giveaways, but a couple of injuries set me back so why not start this year by getting back on track with some New Year’s goals and resolutions.

THE GIVEAWAY:
A dozen steelhead flies, two of each color shown!

HOW TO ENTER
✔️ Like this post

✔️ Tag as many of your steelhead friends and have them follow this account

That’s it.

I will announce the winner January 8th 2026

📩 I will DM the winner directly

If you’ve followed along for past giveaways, you know I’m legit and not affiliated with anyone—just sharing flies and giving back to the community.

ABOUT THE PATTERN:
This fly is a proven winter steelhead producer—a steak-and-eggs style combo, tied a bit larger, incorporating a stonefly profile with varied accent colors that have worked extremely well as an egg imitation in cold water.

Good luck, and here’s to a healthy, fish-filled New Year! 🎣

Last tie for 2025!Wishing all of you a very happy, healthy and blessed New Year, all the best in 2026! A special thanks ...
01/01/2026

Last tie for 2025!

Wishing all of you a very happy, healthy and blessed New Year, all the best in 2026!

A special thanks for all of the continued support and encouragement throughout this past year, it has helped me navigate a tremendously challenging year and I appreciate all of you!

Stay safe out there tonight!

Kept it really simple this evening with a stonefly pattern that has produced consistently over the years.
Tied on a Partridge Heavy Single #6
UTC 70 Black
Black Goose Biots
UTC Vinyl Rib, Nymph in Black
ThinSkin Black
Wapsi Pearl Chenille, Black, Size Medium

Tonight’s fly at the vise 🪶🪳I decided to go with a stonefly built around turkey tail, using it in both the abdomen and w...
30/12/2025

Tonight’s fly at the vise 🪶🪳

I decided to go with a stonefly built around turkey tail, using it in both the abdomen and wing case to keep things natural and buggy. The tail is turkey biot, tied on a Daichi 1760, size 12, paired with a Firehole Stone Black tungsten bead (3.0 mm).

From there, the abdomen is built with four barbs of turkey tail to give it a naturally mottled, segmented look, then counter-ribbed with UTC Ultra Wire (small, black) for durability and definition. The thorax is dubbed with Dave Whitlock’s SLF – Red Squirrel Nymph, keeping that soft, lifelike profile, and finished with Montana Fly Company legs for movement. The wing case gets a light coat of Sally Hansen’s to add durability without killing the natural texture.

Classic materials, subtle synthetics, and built to fish hard.

I couldn’t let 2025 close out without stepping into the river and making a few casts, or at least my version of them rig...
29/12/2025

I couldn’t let 2025 close out without stepping into the river and making a few casts, or at least my version of them right now. This year has been a tough one. Two surgeries quietly sidelined me for most of it, keeping me off the water far longer than I ever expected.

2025 may have knocked me around a bit, but I wasn’t about to let it get the final word.

Today was really about knocking the rust off and getting back into my element, waders on, fishing rods in hand and boots back in the water where I belong. Casting was limited and adjusted because of the injury, but that wasn’t the point. The goal was simply to move through the motions, to see what I could do, and to reconnect with the river.

I hiked 8.3 miles, fished deliberately, took time to reflect and was fortunate enough to bring one fish to hand and lost two. Three months post-op, the shoulder held together, felt good, and allowed me to make some basic casts and that alone is a win.

I’m moving forward. Grateful to be back in the river, grateful for progress, and grateful for what’s still ahead! 🎣

Greg and everyone at , thank you sincerely!Being recognized in this contest is truly an honor and something I do not ta...
28/12/2025

Greg and everyone at , thank you sincerely!

Being recognized in this contest is truly an honor and something I do not take lightly. To be considered alongside so many exceptionally talented fly tyers, many of whom I’ve admired and learned from for years is both humbling and deeply meaningful. I’m grateful to every Pro Staff Member who took the time to vote.

Beyond the contest itself, I want to express genuine gratitude for what JStockard Fly Fishing continues to do for the fly-tying community as a whole. Your long-standing commitment to education, innovation, and engagement has helped shape not only my own development as a fly tyer, but also the growth of countless others at every level. The resources you provide, the conversations you encourage, and the community you continue to nurture are foundational to keeping fly tying both relevant and inspiring.

This annual contest is more than a competition, it’s a celebration of creativity, craftsmanship, and shared passion. That sense of connection and encouragement starts with JStockard’s leadership and willingness to invest back into the people who make this craft what it is.

Thank you for continuing to support, challenge, and uplift fly tyers everywhere. It is sincerely appreciated!

Regards
Jeffrey Deshefy

Tonight’s pattern is tied on a Firehole 718 size 20, paired with a Firehole Stone 2.5 mm tungsten for a compact, fast-si...
23/12/2025

Tonight’s pattern is tied on a Firehole 718 size 20, paired with a Firehole Stone 2.5 mm tungsten for a compact, fast-sinking profile that still keeps its proportions.

Started the body with Semperfli Nano Silk 18D followed by 4–5 dark brown pheasant tail fibers ribbed with extra-small copper Ultra Wire. For the thorax, instead of traditional pheasant tail, I went with a single strand of turkey tail be pheasant tail for a more mottled, natural tone at this size.

Thorax dubbed with Senyo’s Laser Dub – Dark Tan, wing case is Peacock- Orange Uni-Mylar (1/32”) and finished with a subtle hotspot collar using Veevus14/0 Fluorescent Orange that may be just enough to trigger without overpowering the fly.

Turkey tail vs pheasant tail 🤔

Last night’s rain, combined with last week’s snowfall and ongoing snowmelt, has finally given our local streams some muc...
20/12/2025

Last night’s rain, combined with last week’s snowfall and ongoing snowmelt, has finally given our local streams some much-needed relief from the drought we’ve been dealing with. Took a drive to one section of the South Branch River and then to check the Musconectong and finally the Pequest. Now it is just a matter of time for them clearing up a bit as each one recovers differently.

Even with winter officially arriving next week, Winter Solstice that is, trout remain opportunistic, especially in higher, slightly off-color water like this. Swinging streamers through softer seams and tailouts can be extremely effective under these conditions, as fish are more willing to move for a bigger meal. Dead-drifting larger stonefly patterns or other heavy nymphs tight to the bottom is another solid approach, particularly in deeper runs and pocket water. Once these flows return to normal, then I will switch back over to the usual Winter time approach with much smaller patterns.

Golden Stoneflies in production, headed for Northern California.When I’m tying large batches of the same pattern, everyt...
13/12/2025

Golden Stoneflies in production, headed for Northern California.

When I’m tying large batches of the same pattern, everything starts with prep—hooks laid out, materials selected and prepped ahead of time. With stoneflies, I like to break the process into stages, tying thoraxes in one session and abdomens in another. This approach keeps proportions consistent and speeds things up without sacrificing detail.

A close friend once said nothing in nature is exactly the same—and that’s true—but when it comes to stoneflies, realism lives in uniform profiles, clean segmentation, and consistent silhouettes.

Have a great weekend and stay safe out there! 🎣👊🏻

Weaving a Golden Stone — Classic Technique, Modern MaterialsWhen I tie Golden Stones, weaving the body is one of my favo...
11/12/2025

Weaving a Golden Stone — Classic Technique, Modern Materials

When I tie Golden Stones, weaving the body is one of my favorite techniques. It gives you that natural contrast you see in real stones — dark, armored top with a lighter underside — without building a bulky fly.

A Quick History

Weaving shows up in European tying as early as the mid-1900s, especially among Polish, Czech, and Slovak tiers. These early masters used weaving for caddis and stonefly nymphs because it created segmentation and durability they couldn’t get from dubbing. By the ’60s–’80s, weaving became a staple in European competition circles, eventually spreading to American stonefly and steelhead patterns.

Modern Materials Tiers Use Today

Most weavers don’t rely solely on fly-tying thread anymore. The go-to materials now are:

🧵 DMC Embroidery Floss – the top choice; splits into strands; great color selection
🧵 DMC Pearl Cotton ( #5/ #8) – durable with a slight sheen; perfect for larger stones
🧵 Craft/Macramé Cord (micro) – smooth, strong, excellent for size 6–10 stoneflies
🧵 Ultra Wire (Small/Brassie) – adds segmentation and weight
🧵 Micro Tubing / Stretch Cord – creates a rubbery, lifelike texture

Fly-tying threads like UTC 70/140 and Danville 6/0 still work, but craft fibers lay flatter and are easier to tension — which is why most tiers prefer them for woven bodies

Tonight’s tie is a Golden Stonefly nymph (Hesperoperla pacifica), heading out to Northern California and the Pacific Nor...
09/12/2025

Tonight’s tie is a Golden Stonefly nymph (Hesperoperla pacifica), heading out to Northern California and the Pacific Northwest for winter–spring steelhead. This species is one of the dominant large stoneflies in western fastwater rivers. The nymphs are long, strong, and built for heavy current — featuring a cylindrical, tube-shaped abdomen, darkening dorsal plates, and broad oval wing pads that turn almost black as they near emergence.

These natural markers are exactly what this pattern is designed to replicate.

Materials

• Hook: Daiichi 1760, size 8
• Bead: 1/8” gold
• Thread: UTC 70 Brown Olive
• Tails: Goose biots — Golden Stone
• Abdomen Dubbing: Custom blend — Dave Whitlock SLF (Golden Stone Nymph) + Wapsi Awesome Possum (Golden Stone)
• Underbody: Dirty Bug Yarn (Semperfli)
• Ribbing: UTC Vinyl Rib (Amber, Nymph size)
• Over-Back Segmentation: UTC Small Brown Wire
• Shellback / Wing Pads: Thin Skin — Natural Mottled
• Legs: Hareline Barred Crazy Legs — Gold/Yellow Pearl
• Dura Suture Line: Single strand 8/0 thread (tan–golden)
• Finish: RaidZap Thick UV resin

Bio Notes — Golden Stonefly (Hesperoperla pacifica)
• Nymphs have a long, narrow, cylindrical abdomen, not a tapered “fat” profile.
• The dorsal exoskeleton darkens from amber to deep brown as they approach emergence.
• Wing pads are broad, oval, and dark, with visible segmentation behind them.
• Built for fast water — they cling to rocks, migrate toward riffle edges to hatch, and are a major high-protein meal for trout and steelhead

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