Boatmen and Backswimmers are on in Central Alberta

Today was warm, not too windy and the possibility of boatmen and backswimmer action spurred Karen and I on to get out on the water for a few hours. We launched at 11:30 am. Like two days ago, casting and retrieving flashbacks was working great. By 1 pm both Karen and I were both casting and retrieving. We were having excellent action as well. Long leaders with two flashbacks, one size 12 and one size 14 again worked well. We casted at rise forms. Strip, strip, pause, KABOOM; fish on!

By 3:30 pm; we packed up and headed to the football field. Friday Night Lights is a tradition in our house!

A Backswimmer-Careful These Critters Can Bite!

Boatmen!

Shrimp and Daphnia

 

Flashbacks Work Great When Trout Are Slashing at Boatmen and Backswimmers

I love fly fishing with Flashback Pheasant Tails. I do make a few minor changes to the pattern during boatmen/backswimmer time. I add biot wings wings and I use red or rainbow beads. Easy to tie and they are fish catchers. I usually tie on two flashbacks; one size 12 and one size 14 on a 12 foot leader, tying the smaller flashback at the point just 18 inches from the larger flashback. I cast at trout I can see because of a rise. I usually use a strip, strip, pause cadence with my floating or midge tip line. If I do not see a slashing trout, I fan cast. I usually countdown 5 to 10 seconds before retrieving. There are times that the trout will hook up on the drop. That happened 4 times to me yesterday.

There are certainly many great boatmen patterns out there! I am amazed how well Flashback Pheasant Tails do work during boatmen/backswimmer time.

 

Throat Samples Over the Course of 6 hours on the Water

It is quite interesting to see what trout dine on over the course of a day. It is early fall and trout will be starting to put the feedbag on as the water temperatures start to drop. Today was very telling. We were on the water at 10 am and got off of the water about 4 pm. The day started off slow.  I was casting and retrieving flashbacks and Karen was using a shrimp imitation under an indicator. I was hooking up regularly and Karen's indicator was just bobbing on the surface. Throat samples suggested that the rainbows were eating daphnia and shrimp. One trout was dining on immature damsels, that was interesting. Karen switched to fishing blobs and I started to use a Tokaryk Special. We both caught fish about evenly. About 2 pm, the rainbows were chasing boatmen (smaller) and backswimmers (larger). Karen put on flashbacks below her indicator and I continued to cast and retrieve with flashbacks, size 12.  By far, casting and retrieving got the most attention of the trout! I tie my flashbacks with rainbow and red beads. Thanks Larry for that idea. They certainly get the attention of the trout! It was a beautiful day on the water. Do continue to take throat samples during the day and do not assume what they are eating, you might just be surprised.

Shrimp and damsels!

This trout switched from Daphnia to Boatmen and Backswimmers