water boatmen

[tb11]

just wondering what the proper technique to use is when fishing water boatmen

[Coastrider]

ive never fished them but i would assume it is the same pattern as a boatman uses in the water. short swift pulls and varry the direction?

[billygoat]

I think it depends on the fly, if you are using a foam fly then a full sink would work to mimic fly heading towards bottom, and vice versa. Never seen the swarms, just heard about them. I'm heading up to the interior in a couple of days and hope to see some water boatman action.

[Bbulltrout]

One of the best ways to fish a Boatman is a floating (foam) fly and a Type I or II sink line. Cast out and let the fly line sink until it starts to pull the fly under the surface. Use quick 2-4 inch strips pausing every 5 strips to allow the fly to drift up a bit then continue stripping. Having said that I have good luck with a heavy sink line and stripping the foam fly along bottom where it's sandy/silty.

[Big Green Machine]

We fished foam patterns on a floating line in two feet of water. Cast towards the weeds and retrieve quickly with short strips and a pause every so often.

[canoehead]

We fished foam patterns on a floating line in two feet of water. Cast towards the weeds and retrieve quickly with short strips and a pause every so often.

Did we BigGreenMachine? The fish were so hot for those boatmen that I went home and tied up a bunch. They also work well on a sinking line with a jerky retrieve.

[Big Green Machine]

Hey Canoe - Lid, I got to touch one of yer boatmen so that qualifies! So you were putting on a clinic while I drank beer, I still gleaned some good info!