Dry FlybeginnerPacific Northwest
Stimulator (PNW variant)
$3.95
Available Sizes#6 - #12
Color Variations
OrangeGoldenYellow
The PNW Stimulator is the Rockies version's larger, more dramatic cousin -- upsized for the bigger stoneflies that hatch on rivers like the Deschutes and Yakima. Orange and golden stone colors match the salmonflies and golden stoneflies that emerge in biblical numbers during June and July, carpeting the water with protein and turning every trout in the river into a surface-feeding opportunist. You fish it in heavy water with a short leader and the confidence that comes from knowing the fish are eating something exactly this size. Subtlety is for spring creeks. This is stonefly country.
Quick Facts
TypeDry Fly
Difficultybeginner
SeasonsSummer
Target SpeciesRainbow Trout, Steelhead
Sizes#6 - #12
Best LocationsDeschutes River, OR; Yakima River, WA
Where to Fish It
Deschutes River
OR · Freestone River
Yakima River
WA · Freestone River
Map unavailable. Locations for Stimulator (PNW variant): Deschutes River, OR; Yakima River, WA
Related Reading
hatch guide
Caddis: The Underrated Hatch
Caddisflies outnumber mayflies on most trout streams, yet they receive a fraction of the attention. From the explosive Mother's Day caddis hatch to the giant October caddis of the Pacific Northwest, understanding Trichoptera transforms your fishing from spring through fall.
hatch guide
Stoneflies: When Big Bugs Bring Big Fish
Stonefly hatches produce the most explosive dry-fly fishing of the season. From the legendary salmonfly emergence on western rivers to golden stones across the Pacific Northwest, these big bugs bring the biggest trout to the surface. Consider this your field guide to fishing Plecoptera — the clean-water giants that make twenty-inch trout eat flies the size of your thumb.
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