Mature Boatman

Immature Boatman

Immature Backswimmer

Mature Backswimmer

Although available year round water boatman only slip onto the menu of stillwater trout immediately after ice off and again in the late fall. These stillwater beetles are common inhabitants of the shallows in numerous productive lakes throughout British Columbia. Breathing through a process known as plastron respiration water boatman are air-breathing insects making them prisoners of the shallows. Trapping a bubble of air against their bodies these aquatic oarsmen have a distinct silvery shine to them often masking their true body color. Radiant patterns featuring Mylar, Flashabou or Krystal Flash work wonders for selective trout.

Water boatman are often mistaken for their larger cousins the backswimmer. Characterized by dark backs and light bellies the color of masking tape water boatman seldom exceed ½ inch in length. Backswimmers on the other hand have light backs and dark bellies and reach up ¾'s of an inch. The prominent oar-like legs common to both insects should be a primary feature on any pattern.

The prime time to fish boatman imitations is in the late fall after the first frosts of the season. Capable of flight the mature boatman mate and disperse at this time crashing headlong into lakes all over the south central interior of the province. These cascading boatman give the illusion of rainfall. Upon slamming into the surface the water boatman spins wildly as though knocked senseless by the impact. Breaking through the surface film the boatman scoot down to the bottom depositing their eggs upon weeds and other subsurface debris. At certain times trout become fixated upon the surface-spinning boatman. Traditional boatman patterns cast at these selective fish prove fruitless. Anglers who have buoyant boatman patterns in their fly boxes can reap huge rewards at this time.

The key to successful presentation is duplicating the U shaped path the boatman must follow as they travel to and from the bottom to replenish their oxygen supply. In shallow water weighted patterns fished on a floating line are the method of choice. Be sure to weight the front portion of the hook to imitate the nose down attitude of the diving boatman. In water deeper than 10 feet a high density full sinking line works well.

The heavy belly section of a traditional full sinking line pulls the fly down to the bottom as it sinks. A brisk, choppy strip retrieve back to the surface completes the U shapedillusion. No matter what presentation technique boatman strikes are savage. The rapid sculling motion of the water boatman certainly leads to aggressive strikes. However some theorize that because boatman are capable of a sting-like bite trout mash them in their teeth killing them prior to swallowing.

"Because you never stop learning"