Paul's October 2026 Fly of the Month

 Jame's 'Jim' Krul's Foam Stimulator

Hook:  Ahrex Tp650 Size #6 Streamer or Diachi1268 Curved Nymph Size #6.

Thread:  6/0 or 8/0 Orange, Red or Black. 

Tail:  Badger (or Elk/Deer Hair).

Body Hackle:  Grizzley (or Brown) Hackle palmered through the body.

Body:  Cut strip of Orange 2mm Foam. 

Wing:  Badger (or Elk/Deer Hair).

Thorax: Strip of Yellow 2mm Foam.

Hackle: Grizzley (or Brown) Hackle palmered through the body.

This past winter I was fortunate to attend a fly-tying session led by James ‘Jim’ Krul.  Jim is the former Director of the Catskill Fly Fishing museum.  He’s also contributed to a number of Fly Fishing & Tying magazines and publications.  He provided a wealth of information on how to tie and fish this fly.  I was very interested because I use Stimulators for my ‘Dry/Dropper’ rigs.  This Foam version is extremely easy to see in the water and has better floatability than the traditional floss bodied Stimulators.  It is also different in that it uses Badger for the tail and wing.  If you don’t have badger, just substitute Elk/Deer Hair for the tail and wing.

To tie this fly, start your thread behind the eye.  Make securing wraps and cut off the butt end.  Cover the hook shank with thread, ending your thread even with the hook point.  You are now going to tie in your tail.  Take a small bunch of Badger, stack it if you so desire, and tie it in.  It should extend approximately a hook gap length beyond the bend of the hook. 

At the tie in point of your tail, tie in your body Hackle. It should be a hook size or two smaller than the hook you’re tying on.  Next, tie in a prepared strip of Orange 2mm foam.  You can cut a narrow strip of foam with your scissors, or if your tying multiple flies, use a paper cutter to cut foam strips 2 mm in width.  Bring your thread just beyond the halfway point of your hook shank.  Wrap your Foam strip forward (You want just enough tension when wrapping to form a smooth body) and tie it off with your thread.  Cut off the butt end.  With segmented wraps, palmer your Hackle forward and tie it off with your thread.  Cut off the butt end.  This completes the first segment/body of your fly.

Next, tie in your Badger (or Elk/Deer hair) wing.  It should be a little thicker than your tail and extend halfway down the Tail of the fly.  Once secured, trim off the butt ends and with your thread, lay down a smooth base for the rest of the fly.  Bring your thread back to the wing tie in point.  Tie in an additional Grizzley Hackle.  You can size it to the hook, or when I’m tying this fly, and my hackle feather is long enough, I use the excess body hackle for my Thorax.  After tying in your Hackle, tie in a prepared strip of Yellow Foam.  Again, it should be approximately 2 mm in width.   Wrap it forward and tie it off behind the eye.  Cut off the butt end.  Now wrap your Hackle forward and tie it off behind the eye.  Whip finish your fly and apply a drop of Head Cement if you so desire.  

Winonafly Factory has a nice video on how to tie this fly below:

If you have any questions about this fly or would like to submit a Fly of The Month I can be reached at pdinice@frontier.com .

Paul's September 2026 Bonus Fly of the Month

 Bubble Caddis

Hook:  Dry Fly Sizes #12-#16.
Thread:  6/0 Tan or Wood Duck. 
Body:  Ginger Caddis dubbing.
Wing:  Elk Hair.
Thorax/Wingcase:  2mm strip of Close Cell foam & Ginger Caddis Dubbing. 
 
This was one of my top flies the past couple of years. It tends to work really well for finicky trout when they are on Caddis Emergers. 
 
To tie this fly start your thread behind the eye.  Make securing wraps and cut off the butt end.  Wrap your thread along the hook shank down to the bend of the hook.  Dub a noodle of your Ginger Caddis dubbing.  (You can use your preferred caddis dubbing for this fly.)  Dub the body of the fly 2/3ds up the hook shank towards the eye of the hook.  You are now going to affix your Elk Hair wing to the fly, similar to any other Elk Hair Caddis pattern.  When affixing the wing you want to trim the butt end of the wing closely. You will cover the butt ends of the fly with your tying thread.  The wing should lay flat along the body of the fly.
 
Next, prepare a strip of Closed Cell Foam for your Wing case.  I use a 2mm sheet.  Cut a strip of foam no wider than the gap of your hook (approximately 2-3 mm in width).  Trim it to a point on one end. You will tie the foam in by the trimmed tip with the rest extending beyond the eye of the hook.  Wind your thread forward toward the eye of the hook with securing wraps.  When you get to the eye, create another dubbing noodle with your dubbing.  Dub the thorax of the fly.  After dubbing the thorax, bring your thread back down to the wing tie in point.  Now fold your Foam/Wing case rearward and secure it with wraps of your thread.  Whip finish your fly at this location.  Apply some head cement to your thread if you desire.   Finally, trim your foam so that it is approximately half the sized of your wing case. 

Dave McPhail has a great video on how to tie this fly below:

If you have any questions about this fly or would like to submit a Fly of The Month I can be reached at pdinice@frontier.com .