How to Tie Libby’s Skwala Stonefly

Producer: Fly Fish Food

Skwala stoneflies are the first big-bug hatch in much of the West (see Kubie Brown’s “How to Fish a Skwala Hatch“), and Cheech from Fly Fish Food has cooked up a buggy imitation that sits low in the water just like the real thing. Named for a friend’s daughter, Libby’s Skwala Stonefly features a cool combination of hair and feathers, including a bullet head of CDC over a dubbing ball, topped off by a splash of color for visibility.

Libby’s Skwala Stonefly
Hook: 3X-long dry-fly hook (here a Mustad R43AP), size 10.
Thread: Black SemperFli Nano Silk Ultra Fine, 12/0 or 50-denier.
Underbody: Dark olive Dirty Bug Yarn, small.
Rear Legs: Black Life-Flex Spandex Material, Small.
Abdomen: Dark olive Dirty Bug Yarn, small.
Wing base: Elk-mane hair.
Underwing: Natural dun CDC feathers.
Middle Legs: Black Life-Flex Spandex Material, Small.
Thorax: Natural dun CDC dubbing.
Wing: Natural dun CDC feathers.
Head: Light Olive Ultra Dry Dub.
Front Legs: Black Life-Flex Spandex Material, Small.
Indicator: Orange Ultra Dry Yarn.
Tools: Material clamp, dubbing whirl, dubbing brush.