Library Step by Step George´s Grant Stone Fly

George´s Grant Stone Fly

George Francis Grant was without a doubt an accomplished artist at developing techniques to shape hackles using animal hair. His skill went beyond the ones of a regular tier. In his books, “Master Fly Weaver” and “Montana Trout Flies”, we can see a part of the fly-tying history that, if it w View more...
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George´s Grant Stone Fly
List of materials
MaterialsHook: Mustad 9575 or similar.Thread: 6/0 brown.Tails: brown turkey biots.Under body: one strip yellow Floss and two pins.Body: pheasant collar feather, or similar ones like Hungarian partridge or grouse.Abdomen cover: transparent Vinil Rib (it is oval nylon in the original fly).Legs and thorax: rabbit dubbing brush (it is braided badger in the original fly).Wing cases: two Hungarian partridge feathers, or similar. View more...
Steps

Step 1

Before placing the two brown turkey biots (with the concave tips pointing out), place some dubbing material of the same color so that these open in the desired angle. Biots are tied right on the sides.

Fly tying - George´s Grant Stone Fly - Step 1

Step 2

Make a cigar-shaped under body with the single-strip yellow floss placed at a bobbin flare like the Griffin.

Fly tying - George´s Grant Stone Fly - Step 2

Step 3

Tie the two pins with the head right where we will finish the abdomen, this should be done with the tying thread at the sides of the floss body. If we can get very short pins, we will not have to cut them and then the fly will be closer to perfection.

Fly tying - George´s Grant Stone Fly - Step 3

Step 4

With the tying thread, firmly set some transparent Vinil Rib in the ventral part of the fly, from the front and almost up to the tails, so that no elevations are formed. Then, cover the pins with more yellow floss, tying it right below the pin heads. Be careful not to cover the heads of the pins, these will be useful to lock the Vinil Rib.

Fly tying - George´s Grant Stone Fly - Step 4

Step 5

Choose a pheasant feather, or similar, with an interesting barred; and cement it with transparent flexible cement, stretching it with our fingers as it dries up so that its width is the same than that of the abdomen back.

Fly tying - George´s Grant Stone Fly - Step 5

Step 6

Place the dry feather on the back of the abdomen and cover it with the transparent Vinil Rib, making sure the feather is perfectly centered on the back.

Fly tying - George´s Grant Stone Fly - Step 6

Step 7

The pin heads are there so that the last Vinil Rib turn does not fall to the front; because this would then complicate the tying of the thorax. Tie the Vinil Rib with the thread, right below and at the front of the pin heads.

Fly tying - George´s Grant Stone Fly - Step 7

Step 8

It´s time to loop the copper wire, tying it firmly up until it reaches the pin heads. At the same time, use a Marc Petijean large saltwater tool to place a rabbit or squirrel strap, cutting the leather off leaving only the hair. The tips should be as long as the legs. The rest, which will point to the opposite side, should be sized according to the thorax width.

Fly tying - George´s Grant Stone Fly - Step 8

Step 9

When we make a loop, and thus the hair brush, we get the thorax and the legs material. George Grant used a hackle made with badger hair tied over two pieces of thread, but the method is very complex to be shown this time, so we found this simpler solution.

Fly tying - George´s Grant Stone Fly - Step 9

Step 10

Carefully wrap the rabbit or squirrel brush, combing it backwards in every turn so that the hair is not crushed (like we would do with chenille). Once the thorax is shaped, we should cut it at its back so that it flattens and does not lift the wing cases, yet to be made.

Fly tying - George´s Grant Stone Fly - Step 10

Step 11

Carefully pick two Hungarian feathers (or similar), this should be strongly barred and dense. Cement them trying to make one wider than the other, and both of them wider than the thorax.

Fly tying - George´s Grant Stone Fly - Step 11

Step 12

With a metalic burner shape the wing cases of this stonefly and proceed to tie them one over the other.

Fly tying - George´s Grant Stone Fly - Step 12

Step 13

Finished fly image.

Fly tying - George´s Grant Stone Fly - Step 13

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Jason McReynolds

Jason McReynolds

Guide - United States

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Brown trout, Rainbow trout, Striped Bass