I recently counted all of my fly fishing boxes and realized that I have over 25 that hold a dizzying array of flies-most of which I have never and will never use. All of the guys I fish with know that I catch the majority of my fish on size 12 or 14 Halfbacks. It is my go-to fly from the spring opener until the last day of the season. Last week I took my biggest fish of the season on one. The success of the HB has allowed me to shrink down the number of boxes I take to the lake with me now and often just 2 boxes and a chironomid pack are all I take. I have really simplified things.
Although I will readily give these away no one else I fish with seems to have any luck with them. However, I recently had a PM from a fellow board member that uses them extensively and ties them almost identical to mine. It really encouraged me to find someone else that is dialed into HB goodness.
So what makes them so good? For starters they are about the same size, color and shape of many organisms that you will find in a fishes stomach. they seem to fish well in waters that see a lot of gaudy bead head buggers and particularly well toward the end of the season after fish have seen every possible iteration of a wooly bugger or leech. Fishing them seems to be particularly suited to us elderly guys as they are pretty much a do-nothing presentation but more involved than chironomid staring. I fish them on fast sinking lines, usually Type 5 or 7, deep and slow. I'm always amazed at how big fish find these things in deep water. Because of my success with them I have learned to use nothing lighter than 3X flouro and tie them with a loop knot. Hooks are always S82 3906B Mustads that come sticky sharp, they hook and hold being 2X long and 3X heavy.
When you need a break from slinging tungsten and stripping like crazy give these a try, it is a relaxing way to catch big fish and lots of them. Yeah, there are days that I get out fished by guys using leeches or recently-Boobies-but on average I can hold my own. I am not too proud to beg if a certain pattern is just kicking my ass and I have none.
I fish a half back pattern on Cresent lake round the corner off the totally dirt road from a public dock. 9 foot leader and no damn indicator, the Cresenti cuts love em
pretty much a do-nothing presentation but more involved than chironomid staring. I fish them on fast sinking lines, usually Type 5 or 7, deep and slow. I'm always amazed at how big fish find these things in deep water
Years ago......I looked at the Inland Empire Fly Tying book and almost HALF of the flies were a variation of the Halfback!!! I call mine....the "green thing". PM me.
Years ago......I looked at the Inland Empire Fly Tying book and almost HALF of the flies were a variation of the Halfback!!! I call mine....the "green thing". PM me.
I can not remember when I last fished either a half-back or a full-back but I sure did when I was younger.... great fly... its funny how you get onto new flies and forget about the ones that got you started...... like Rat-faced Mcdougals, Spruce flies, Black gnats and Mosquito patterns....... I think I have a box of half-backs somewhere that I need to find.......
I think your luck with HB's illustrates the importance of presentation, as well as why we find specific pattern favorites that have little to do with any sort of discernible hatch. You're completely dialed in with what works with a HB....no doubt subtle differences in your retrieve cannot easily be replicated.
I remember way back when, a long time ago, you showed me that pattern and how to tie it. I still have some and use them on occasion. They are a productive pattern. The ones I tie are only half as good as yours, so I call them a "Quarterback".
Ive, funny how we all have our go to patterns. Mine is a Carey, Steve’s is his Camo Carey, Tim’s bead head simi seal leech, and when Scott goes dark a SWW...
Ive, funny how we all have our go to patterns. Mine is a Carey, Steve's is his Camo Carey, Tim's bead head simi seal leech, and when Scott goes dark a SWW...
Yeah Rick, we are all different but the best part is that we all catch fish! I think to some extent we have a little of that .."if it ain't broke don't fix it" mentality. Learning how to fish a few patterns really well makes a lot more sense to me than changing flies like a butterfly in a flower garden.
I would kinda equate the latest hot fly contingent with the noobs that think an $800 fly rod will catch them 4 times as many fish as a $200 model.
So Ive, do you tie yours with pheasant tail legs up front, or do you rib yours with hackle kinda like a wooly bugger? I’ve seen it tied both ways it seems.
Wayne, I have a helluva time posting pics on here. I'll see if i can send some to Old 406 Kid and have him post them. He's really good at that stuff and I'm not.
I used to use grizzly hackle for the collar and skipped the peacock herl on the head of my sprately's. Have never fished them in a lake, always a SRC river fly for me. Steelhead and coho used to take them as well. A great fly.
@Wayne Kohan and others, here's a couple of pics relayed from Ive.
I tried to enlarge them as much as possible, any bigger and they get blurry.
Maybe Ive could add a material list or SBS to help with the finer details.
That's a good looking pattern Ron, any idea what the tail fibers and beard feathers are? I still fish bead heads on some stuff but am trying to get back to pre-bead patterns instead. The fly you show fills the bill, used with fast sink lines, a long leader and loop knot it seems that the flies move more naturally in the water. I could be full of crap but it seems to work for me.
The tail and beard are guinea, but I've used grizzly, mallard, and even pheasant tail. I'm a lazy tier, so whatever feather is laying around on the bench will get used.
A lot of folks mention using a red bodied Doc, and it's gotten me intrigued to give it a try next stillwater season.
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