Do You Use Flashbacks during the Boatman/ Backswimmer Activity in the Fall?

I love Flashbacks. I probably tie more Flashbacks than any other fly. It is so versatile. It can represent everything from mayfly nymphs, tiny pin fry to water boatmen. As you can see from the above photo, I use a red bead and biots during the boatman/backswimmer action. There are times, that this modified Flashback is more effective than many more traditional boatman/backswimmer patterns. I often fly fish with two at a time, spaced about 20 inches apart. The trout love it when that distinctive fly plops on the water. Strip, strip, pause; strip, strip, pause, etc. I love the takes.

 

LR Boatman and Rinse and Repeat-2 Excellent Backswimmer Patterns

LR Boatman (Les Robinson)

Rinse and Repeat (Phil Rowley)

I have just finished tying a handful of 2 backswimmer patterns that I enjoy fly fishing late in August and through the fall. Les Robinson came up with the LR Boatman.  It is easy to tie and the trout respond favourably to it! The Rinse and Repeat, is a Phil Rowley pattern that includes a red bead so it can be fished below the surface. I always have a handful of these 2 patterns in my fly box. Notice that on the Rinse and Repeat pattern, there is a dab of UV resin on the tip of the legs. It makes the legs quite animated in the water! Phil likes using black sulky to make the distinctive black stripe of a backswimmer, I just use a fine magic marker!

 

Tying a Tom Thumb

This super simple fly maybe my achilles heel. The Tom Thumb has one tying material, deer hair and it is the very first fly I learned to tie thanks to Dr. Bill Young. This fly made me get obsessed with fly tying.

The Tom Thumb dry fly can be a real fish catcher. I know several fly fishers who regularly use it on their favourite river during a caddis hatch and when the sedges are moving on a lake; you can go through a bag of these imposters. 

Well what is it that causes a one material dry fly problems to tie? For me, it is proportions. How much deer hair do you use and how do you get the shellback and wing perfect! That takes practice, especially when you're tying size 14 and perhaps size 16 Tom Thumbs. 

Take a look at the short video below to watch Phil Rowley tie this fly! He makes it look easy.