NymphJuju Sally
The Juju Sally is Charlie Craven's take on a Little Yellow Sally stonefly nymph that incorporates his signature Super Hair body construction for a realistic, segmented appearance. This vibrant pattern features a painted paintbrush fiber or mayfly tail, a Super Hair body with yellow chartreuse strands accented by a single red strand, a thread-built thorax, and bright yellow fluoro fiber legs and wing casing. The UV resin coating gives the fly durability and a subtle sheen.
Spring, Summer
Intermediate
Trout
Dec 2025
Overview
This Charlie Craven pattern from Charlie's Fly Box showcases his innovative Super Hair body construction that has become a hallmark of his nymph patterns. The Juju Sally targets the ubiquitous Little Yellow Sally stoneflies found in most western freestone streams. The combination of yellow chartreuse with a single red strand creates subtle segmentation and color variation that mimics the natural. The fluoro fiber legs and wing casing add visibility and suggest the developing wing pads of the natural nymph. The UV resin coating adds durability while creating a realistic sheen.
Materials
Hook: JB01 or Daiichi 1150, #14-16
Thread: UNI 8/0, yellow
Tail: Wooster Paint Brush Fiber (or Mayfly Tails), yellow
Body: Super Hair, yellow chartreuse (3 strands) and red (1 strand)
Thorax: UNI 8/0, yellow (thread built)
Casing: Fluoro Fiber, yellow
Legs: Fluoro Fiber, yellow
Glue: Solarez UV Resin, medium
Behavior & Presentation
Natural Behavior: Small stonefly nymphs crawl actively along streambeds, clinging to rocks while grazing. Their periodic drift during migration to shore for emergence makes them vulnerable prey. Considerable size relative to other nymphs makes them sought-after meals.
Where Trout Eat It: Fish target these along the streambed in pocket water, runs, and riffle edges where nymphs tumble through feeding zones during migration.
How to Fish It: Dead drift near bottom or swing at drift's end to imitate nymphs moving toward emergence sites along banks.
Best Water: Work pocket water, runs, riffle edges, and structure near banks where stoneflies migrate.
Strike Type: Indicator dips, line hesitations, or subtle tightening signal bottom takes.
Fishing Strategy
Rigging Suggestions: Fish on a euro nymph rig or under an indicator with 4X-5X tippet. Can be fished as a single fly or as the point fly in a two-nymph rig with a smaller attractor as the dropper.
Seasonal Timing: and early summer when Little Yellow Sally stoneflies are active. These insects typically emerge from April through July depending on location and water conditions.
Pro Tips: The pattern sinks well and rides naturally in the current.
Entomology
Golden stonefly nymphs crawl actively along the streambed, clinging to rocks with powerful legs as they graze on algae and detritus. Their considerable size and periodic drift during migration to shore for emergence make them sought-after prey for hungry trout.
- Order
- Plecoptera
- Family
- Perlidae
- Common Name
- Golden Stonefly
- Organism Type
- insect
- Life Stage
- general