Soft Hackle Water Boatman Pattern

[paparex]

Does anyone have a soft hackle pattern that works well when Water Boatman are present? I thought I had a pattern in my archives, but no. I remember it to have a tinsel body, in gold?!? It did not look anything like a realistic water boatman.

[William Anderson]

Have not seen a pattern for it, but noticed it is all quite one the search for the pattern. Looks like it might be up to you to make it happen. Please post a pattern idea or make a suggestion and it would make for an interesting little project. I've never fished the species specifically and know very little about the nature of fishing them (water type, behavior, environs, etc.) but I know they show up in a lot of texts, so I'll look around in a bit to see if I can find something useful. Maybe a discussion of the insect will lead somewhere. Happy hunting.

w

[paparex]

I found it.

The reference was from Diptera.co.uk http://www.diptera.co.uk/patterns/c/cor ... _gold.html

The recipe listed is:
Hook: Kamsan B170 14-16
Thread: Black then Red for the Thorax and Head (I would use Red start to finish)
Body: Gold Holographic Tinsel
Hackle: Brown or Natural Partridge (2 turns)
Thorax: Yellow SLF on Red
Finish: Coat the Tinsel with One Coat of Brush On Superglue

Water Boatmen come back to lay eggs and drop from the sky to break the surface tension. When they do, it is like rain or sometimes like hail. The trout focus on the corixa at those times. They trail air bubbles, ergo the gold, pearl or silver bodies or the long hackles/flashabou, etc., on realistic patterns.

[Mataura mayfly]

Not what I was expecting to see as a water boatman, but a nice fly.

They were/are a popular still water wet fly here, but tied as a beetle shaped unhackled fly with a prominant pair of "swimmer" legs.

[flyfishwithme]

I am with you MM. The above pattern would not act in the same way as a water boatman. It is probably one of those aquatic species that is difficult to imitate as a soft hackle.
Good to try but I would probably stick to a more traditional 'beetle' type pattern.

[Mataura mayfly]

I could dig out some patterns and possibly photograph some average ties of those patterns if anyone is interested.
You may even be able to develop a soft hackle off them, or maybe bias the hackle to each side of a plump body to imitate the "swimmer" legs.

Most naturals I have observed have a very visible air bubble as mentioned and it really glistens under the water, but the bug itself is a dull grey/black out of the water. They use the bubble as a bouyancy aid and make regular visits to the surface film to replenish it....... and to be eaten by trout.

[Donald Nicolson]

I tend to agree with Mm and ffwm, the artificials are usually beetle shaped with paddles,
and silver or such for the air bubble. The fly shown looks quite interesting but if it is taken
for a corixa, I would be surprised.

[letumgo]

Jeff - I would love to see your patterns. Please post them.

[Mataura mayfly]

Here is one "Kiwi style", not the greatest photos, but you will get the idea.





Hook: Kamasan B175 #14-16
Wing case/hackle? Black Pukeko fibres
Body: Bronze peacock herl twisted on thread
Swimmer legs: 2 Golden Pheasant tail barbs

The wincase fibres have been trimmed long after being bought foward to give the impression of a head and legs, so it is kind of a soft hackle. Pukeko barbs are soft and floppy, but any black feather could be used. Underside body feathers from a Silver Pheasant Cock bird are a good Pukeko substitute.
Ideally the legs should exit the body a little further down the hook, say 1/4 shank from the eye, but I tie fishing flies not photo flies and I am a pretty crappy photographer.

The wingcase can be substituted with thin foam and use a lighter wire (dry fly) hook if fly which sits in the film is your aim. Legs can be brown biot, peacock herl or even synthetic if you wanted.

I have a few other patterns in reference here, but this is the one I tie most often. I can list the other patterns but don't expect photos. There are some nice variations of the pattern on danica.com for those familiar with Han's great site and MUCH better photos.

[letumgo]

Jeff - Outstanding boatman pattern. I was doing some research earlier today and I think you're pattern is a dead ringer for the natural insect. You've gotten the shape and the legs (oars) just perfect, imho.

These video links may be of interest so some members:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wrkFOgdHus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x6Cd0SYS3g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hQ5AY_E ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGXJpITZKko

PS - I love the photos.