Crystal Stone 01/13/2026 Photo Album

My history with the crystal stone is documented on my post of 03/06/2021. This may be the only fly that I created on my own. Most of my creations are simply modifications of existing flies. The 03/06/2021 post contains a materials table and tying steps.

Small Black Stonefly Nymph

I wish I could take credit for creating a new killer fly, but I must confess that this fly has not been a top producer. I have managed a fish or two here and there, but it is not among my top flies. I suspect that part of the problem is my failure to knot it to my line on a consistent basis. I often read about anglers achieving success with a black pheasant tail, and I suspect my crystal stone is a viable substitute.

Side View

Nevertheless, I like to maintain some of these in my fleece wallet, so I took stock and concluded that my supply of the crystal stone was adequate. Of course, this is a sure sign of my reluctance to deploy it, since I suffered no shrinkage.