The thermometer outside my window reads 13 degrees Fahrenheit as I write this. And winter has been harder than usual this year, wind, cold, ice and snow. It has all been heavier than the norm. More and more, I look upon weather like this and say to myself that it’s fly tying season in my neck of the woods. Time to tie those flies and restock those boxes that you will be using in warmer days. It also means that I day dream about fishing in the warmer months a hell of a lot more.

One of my favorite day dreams has to do with fishing small creeks with attractor type dry flies for small native trout. This type of fishing, for me at least, is usually done in the summer time. Spring hatches have petered out and the sun has driven trout in larger creeks into the depths to feed, or has caused them to become nocturnal in there habits. Trout are much more active in small, cool, shaded creeks that run through wood lots and thickets. Since there are not too many hatches going on at this time of year, attractor flies are the order of the day.

One of my favorites for this type of fishing is the irresistible stimulator. This fly goes perfect with the lazy fishing of summer. It floats well without much attention even after being chewed on by more than a few fish. Of course this is also the reason I tie it in the winter during fly tying season. With its spun deer hair body it is not a fast and easy fly to tie. But for me it is worth the extra effort when the time comes around to use it. With that, let’s take a look at the steps needed to tie the fly. First let’s take a look at the pattern so we have all the materials on hand.

Yellow Irresistible Stimulator

Hook: 3xl Dry fly hook or curved dry hook 8 – 16

Tail: Light or bleached elk or deer hair

Abdomen: Yellow spun deer hair

Body Hackle: Brown dry fly hackle

Wing: Light or bleached elk or deer hair

Thorax: Amber dubbing

Hackle: Grizzly

Thread: 8/0 Orange

Start by placing a long shank, light wire hook in the vise.

Start the thread on the hook and cover the shank from the eye rearward to the bend.

Cut a small bunch of light colored elk hair and place it in a hair stacker to even the tips. Next, tie it in on top of the hook shank so the tips extend to the hook bend, or just slightly beyond, and bind it down.

Now select a brown dry fly hackle to match the size hook you are using. Brush the hackle barbs back so they stand out from the stem and tie it in by its tip at the back end of the fly

Cut a small bunch of yellow deer hair, trim off the tips and lay it on top of the hook shank.

With the thread still at the back of the fly take a turn around the deer hair and began to pull it tight.

As the thread tightens and the hair starts to flair take another turn or two around the hair and let it spin around the hook shank. You can use you fingers to help guide the hair around the shank. Take yet another turn or two with the thread to make sure the hair is fully flared and locked into place.

Work the thread through the deer hair so that it is in front of the clump of hair. Cut a second clump of hair and repeat the process in front of the first clump.

Now, using your thumb and finger, push the second clump of hair back against the first.

Again, work the thread through the deer hair so it is in front of it.

Repeat this process of adding small clumps of deer hair until you have covered two thirds of the hook shank.

At this point it is time to start trimming the deer hair body to shape. I usually tie off the thread with a whip finish and cut it off so it is not in the way during the trimming process. I like to use a good pair of serrated scissors for this operation. You can leave the fly in the vise when trimming it, or take it out; whichever is easiest for you.

Trim the body to a long cigar shape. When trimming around the tail, be careful not to cut off the hackle and tail fibers.

Now take a razor blade and cut a small ramp in the deer hair on top of the fly and at the front of the body. This is necessary so that the wing does not sit at too high of an angle when you tie it in. Be careful when making this cut to not go to deep or you could nick your thread, causing the deer hair body to come apart.

Re-attach the thread to the fly

Now grab the hackle with your hackle pliers and wrap it forward through the deer hair body. Secure the thread and cut off the stem.

Cut off another small clump of light elk hair, even the ends in your hair stacker and tie it in on top of the hook. The tips should extend almost to the end of the tail.

Clip off the butts of the hair and bind it down.

Next select a grizzly dry fly hackle feather to match the size of the hook you are using, and tie it in by the stem.

Spin some amber dry fly dubbing onto the thread and wrap it forward.

Palmer the hackle over the amber dubbing and secure it behind the eye of the hook.

Cut off the excess hackle, form the head, and then tie a whip finish knot. Apply some head cement, and the fly is finished.

Below are some other color variations for this pattern that are proven fish catchers.

Black Irresistible Stimulator

Hook: 3xl Dry fly Hook or Curved Dry Hook 6 – 16

Tail: Black Elk or Deer Hair

Abdomen: Black Spun Deer Hair

Body Hackle: Dun Dry Fly Hackle

Wing: Black Elk or Deer Hair

Thorax: Orange Dubbing

Hackle: Grizzly

Thread: 8/0 Orange

Gold Irresistible Stimulator

Hook: 3xl Dry Fly Hook or Curved Dry Hook 6 – 16

Tail: Golden Brown Elk or Deer Hair

Abdomen: Golden Brown Spun Deer Hair

Body Hackle: Dun Dry Fly Hackle

Wing: Golden Brown Elk or Deer Hair

Thorax: Orange Dubbing

Hackle: Brown

Thread: 8/0 Orange

Olive Irresistible Stimulator

Hook: 3xl Dry Fly Hook or Curved Dry Hook 8 – 16

Tail: Light Elk or Deer Hair

Abdomen: Olive Spun Deer Hair

Body Hackle: Brown Dry Fly Hackle

Wing: Light Elk or Deer Hair

Thorax: Amber Dubbing

Hackle: Grizzly

Thread: 8/0 Orange

Orange Irresistible Stimulator

Hook: 3xl Dry Fly Hook or Curved Dry Hook 4 – 16

Tail: Natural Gray Elk or Deer Hair

Abdomen: Orange Spun Deer Hair

Body Hackle: Brown Dry Fly Hackle

Wing: Natural Gray Elk or Deer Hair

Thorax: Amber Dubbing

Hackle: Grizzly

Thread: 8/0 Orange

Original Irresistible Stimulator

Hook: 3xl Dry Fly Hook or Curved Dry Hook 8 – 16

Tail: Dark Gray Elk or Deer Hair

Abdomen: Gray Spun Deer Hair

Body Hackle: Brown Dry Fly Hackle

Wing: Dark Gray Elk or Deer Hair

Thorax: Gray Dubbing

Hackle: Grizzly

Thread: 6/0 Black