Bodkin / Patterns

Boatman Float Fly

Dry Fly · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Standard wet/nymph hook, 10-14
  • Thread Yellow or olive 8/0

Materials

  • Underbody Yellow or olive dubbing (as needed)
  • Float Thin closed-cell foam strip (1)
  • Back Brown Thin Skin or stretch-flex (1 strip)
  • Rib Fine wire or clear mono (1 length)
  • Legs/paddles Brown biots or knotted rubber (1 pair)

How to tie it

  1. Tie in the back strip and rib at the bend, then lay a strip of thin foam along the top of the shank; the foam is what floats the fly (a Boatman that swims down but bobs back up).
  2. Dub a plump yellow/olive body over the shank to form the boatman's rounded belly.
  3. Pull the foam and then the brown back strip over the top and secure behind the eye, giving a domed shellback.
  4. Counter-wrap the rib forward in 4-5 turns to segment the back and lock the shellback, then tie off.
  5. Tie in a pair of biot or rubber 'paddle' legs angled back like oars, whip finish and cement.

Tying videos

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