Krystal Boatman
By Elaine Cook
Water boatman and backswimmers have sporadic popularity with trout but trout at certain times will take them very eagerly. If you fish still waters, a couple of these need to be in your fly box. These insects are on the surface of the water and propel themselves in 1 to 3 inch bursts with their legs that, at rest, extend outward from their body.
Hook: TMC 3769 (this is a 1X short hook), sizes 10-14
Thread: Black, 6/0 or 8/0
Tag: Silver Flashabou
Shellback: Black Krystal Flash
Body: Yellow to tan dubbing, spun in a loop of pearlescent and silver Krystal Flash
Legs: Brown or olive Super Floss or Flex Floss or round rubber hackle
1. Crimp barb
2. Apply thread near eye and wrap back to over hook point
3. Double a length of silver flashabou and attach just in front of hook point with strands to rear
4. Wind flashabou to rear until over rear of barb, then back up to tie in spot. Secure, then cut excess
5. Tie in clump of black Krystal flash at mid point of shank with tips extending to rear, then wrap to shank back to halfway point between hook tip and barb point
6. Secure leg material halfway up hook shank so that it sticks out about hook length on each side
7. Tie in one strand of silver Krystal Flash and one strand of pearlescent Krystal Flash on top of black Krystal Flash with tips to rear
8. Make dubbing loop, wrap thread forward to one eye length behind eye. Insert dubbing in loop, twist, then wrap forward forming body. Tie off and cut excess
9. Pull shellback forward over top of body, tie off, cut excess
10. Tie thread head, whip finish, cut thread
11. Epoxy shellback and top of head. Softex could also be used.