A heavily weighted stonefly nymph that gets to the bottom fast and stays there — the standard anchor fly on Western freestone rigs. A variegated chenille body with three pairs of living rubber legs, plus leg-material tail and antennae, wiggling at drift speed. Crude at the vise, lethal in the water.
1. Weight — Wrap 15–20 turns of lead wire over the middle of the shank. Cover with thread.
2. Thread base — Attach brown thread and build a base to the bend.
3. Tail — Tie in two strands of rubber leg material at the bend, split into a V.
4. Rear legs — Tie in one pair of rubber legs at the rear third.
5. Body & legs — Tie in the chenille at the bend and wind forward in touching turns, tying in a second pair of legs at the midpoint and a third pair at the front third as you go. Legs should trap between chenille wraps.
6. Antennae — Tie in two strands of leg material at the eye, angling forward, split into a V.
7. Head — Build a neat head. Whip finish and cement. Trim legs to roughly hook-shank length.
