Fly of the Month: Stinger

The Stinger is a pattern that really isn't an exact imitation of anything. But, it looks like a lot of things. In freshwater, the pattern imitates a hellgrammite, crawfish, muddler, or mayfly larvae depending on its size and color. In saltwater the Stinger can be crafted to look like a shrimp or crab but is a really good imitation of a benthic worm or small eel- just the ticket for a redfish grubbing through the mud.

The tail of the Stinger is constructed from craft fur and has a good wiggling action in the water. The dubbed body contains a mixture of craft fur and bucktail, taking on a fleshy appearance when wet. Banding on the both the tail and the body can be created using permanent markers. The belly fibers of the Stinger are trimmed flush with the hook shank so the fly will flip over and ride with the hook in the upright (weedless) position. The head can be built from cones (as shown), metallic beads, dumbbell eyes, or bead chain eyes. It's really a matter of how much weight you want to add and/or what materials are on hand. I have tied many of these flies using either metallic bead heads or bead chain eyes, but Captain Billy Trimble sold me on using cones because their tapered design performs so well in the weeds. My favorite colors in this pattern are black/chartreuse, or orange/with black banding.

Materials

Hook- Tiemco 800S or equivalent #4 to #8
Thread- Clear nylon mono
Tail- Craft fur
Flash- Crystal flash
Body- (Dubbed) Craft fur mixed with a few trimmed bucktail fibers
Head- Cones, metallic beads, lead barbells, or bead chain
Cement- Gel superglue