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 RL 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 your 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. 

 

More Cutthroat Action

Hal and Colin got out yesterday to chase westslope cutts. Looks like they had an excellent day! From what the guys said, there were no real hatches going on. Most of their success was nymphing. I am not surprised. The guys did enjoy a beautiful sunny day with very little wind! Hal enjoyed seeing some new water. That is always interesting! Water is low and gin clear. That also ups the challenge, especially when the cutthroat have seen a lot of fly fisherman. Going to smaller nymphs, finer tippet and stealth always ups your chances of catching a beautifully coloured cutthroat! Well done guys. 

Enjoy the weekend! It is going to be hot. Get out early to fly fish. Take a thermometer and call it a day if the water gets too warm! Keep'em wet and use a net. I have seen way too many pictures on social media of trout lying on rocks. Mostly we have to gently educate those who do that.

Oppps!