Michigan Flies

Hatches / stonefly

Golden Stonefly

A

Acroneuria lycorias, A. abnormis and Paragnetina media

Also called Golden Stone, Big Golden Stonefly, Acroneuria, Paragnetina.

Michigan's large golden stoneflies emerge from mid-May through early August by crawling out on shore at night and around dawn, so the nymph is the fished stage. Nymphs spend two or more years in the riffles and migrate to slower bank water before emergence; a #6-8 golden stonefly nymph fished tight to the banks in June is a proven big-trout fly, and Hawkins' Mattress Thrasher covers the adult. Egg-laying adults on summer evenings can bring up big fish where they are locally abundant. Paragnetina media is common in Michigan collections but no source gives it separate dates.

#4–8nightmorningnymphadultgolden-brown to amber bodytan mottled wingbanded yellow-brown nymph with dark markings

Camille Boucher · CC0 · iNaturalist · Val-d'Or, QC J0Y · 2024

Timing by region

  1. Southeast Lower Peninsula
    1. J
    2. F
    3. M
    4. A
    5. M
    6. J
    7. J
    8. A
    9. S
    10. O
    11. N
    12. D
    Window
    May 1 – Jul 24
    Peak
    —
  2. Southwest Lower Peninsula
    1. J
    2. F
    3. M
    4. A
    5. M
    6. J
    7. J
    8. A
    9. S
    10. O
    11. N
    12. D
    Window
    May 5 – Jul 28
    Peak
    —
  3. Northeast Lower Peninsula
    1. J
    2. F
    3. M
    4. A
    5. M
    6. J
    7. J
    8. A
    9. S
    10. O
    11. N
    12. D
    Window
    May 15 – Aug 7
    Peak
    —
  4. Northwest Lower Peninsula
    1. J
    2. F
    3. M
    4. A
    5. M
    6. J
    7. J
    8. A
    9. S
    10. O
    11. N
    12. D
    Window
    May 15 – Aug 7
    Peak
    —
  5. Upper Peninsula
    1. J
    2. F
    3. M
    4. A
    5. M
    6. J
    7. J
    8. A
    9. S
    10. O
    11. N
    12. D
    Window
    Jun 5 – Aug 28
    Peak
    —

Flies that match

Pat's Rubber Legs (reference photo)Reference photo
Pat's Rubber Legs
A
Nymph#4–10BlackBrownCoffee-black+1

A U.P. steelhead guide's nymph rig runs double-bead stoneflies and Pat's Rubber Legs #8 to #10 in black and brown as the point fly ahead of an egg or caddis. For trout it is a generic big stonefly for the Pine, Upper Manistee and Sturgeon, fished deep in fast water year-round; Michigan trout sources do not name it, so treat the trout use as generic.

Indicator nymphing · Chuck and duck · Euro / tight-line nymphing

Reserve · $2.75
20 Incher (reference photo)Reference photo
20 Incher
A
Nymph#6–12Peacock and brown with goose biots

Current Works lists the 20 Incher among its Michigan steelhead stoneflies #6 to #12, alongside Ted's Early Black Stone and Mercer's Biot Epoxy Stone. It doubles as a golden stone nymph for trout from mid May through August, fished tight to the banks where Acroneuria nymphs migrate before crawling out.

Indicator nymphing · Chuck and duck · Euro / tight-line nymphing

Reserve · $2.75
Stimulator (reference photo)Reference photo
Stimulator
I
Dry fly#6–14YellowOrangeOlive

A buoyant palmered dry that stands in for golden stone adults during the Hex weeks (Gates reports yellow and golden stones concurrent with the June Hex), Yellow Sallies in May and June, and October Caddis in fall. It also floats a dropper nymph in fast water on the Pine and Sturgeon.

Dry fly

Reserve · $3.00