Zeph's Water Boatman

Curtis - March, 2015

Until a few years ago, I had never fished nor really appreciated the lowly water boatman. I'd seen them in the water and knew the patterns existed, but just didn't realize how important they could be to trout on the prowl. Combine a few trips where I got some good Water Boatman samples from trout and a couple of tips from a good friend who'd seen the same thing and I was a lot more motivated to whip up a good pattern for my stillwater box. If you want some good info on the insects themselves, check out our friend Phil Rowley's excellent write-up of them here. This imitation was patterned after some of the naturals we were seeing and I also wanted to include the magical fish catching dubbing that is Ice Dub from Hareline. Tan UV in this case. It's basically fish magnets chopped up and all shiny. Anyway, the pattern is pretty simple and also incorporates more Loon UV Clear Fly Finish like we did on the previous snail pattern.

Material List
  • Hook: Fulling Mill 35005 Heavyweight Champ, Barbless - 12
  • Thread: UTC Ultrathread 70 Denier - Black
  • Bead: Plummeting Tungsten Beads - Fl. Chartreuse - 7/64" (2.8mm)
  • Body: Hare'e Ice Dub - Hare's Ear
  • Legs: Midge Flash - Rootbeer
  • Shellback: Thin Skin - Black
  • Coating: Loon Fluorescing UV Clear Fly Finish
  • Tools Used: Loon UV Infiniti Light, Stonfo Comb/Brush Tool,
Materials & Alternate Materials Listed Below
UTC Ultrathread 70 Denier
UTC Ultrathread 70 Denier

UTC Ultrathread 70 Denier

$2.49
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge

8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge

$3.50
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0

Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0

$3.50
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread

Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread

$3.49
Plummeting Tungsten Beads - Neon Colors
Plummeting Tungsten Beads - Neon Colors

Plummeting Tungsten Beads - Neon Colors

$7.90
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0

Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0

$3.50
Firehole Stones Matte Tungsten Beads
Firehole Stones Matte Tungsten Beads
Firehole Stones Matte Tungsten Beads
Firehole Stones Matte Tungsten Beads
Firehole Stones Matte Tungsten Beads
Firehole Stones Matte Tungsten Beads
Firehole Stones Matte Tungsten Beads
Firehole Stones Matte Tungsten Beads
Firehole Stones Matte Tungsten Beads
Firehole Stones Matte Tungsten Beads
Firehole Stones Matte Tungsten Beads

Firehole Stones Matte Tungsten Beads

$9.50
Thin Skin
Thin Skin
Thin Skin
Thin Skin
Thin Skin
Thin Skin

Thin Skin

$3.49
Firehole Stones Neon Matte Tungsten Beads
Firehole Stones Neon Matte Tungsten Beads
Firehole Stones Neon Matte Tungsten Beads
Firehole Stones Neon Matte Tungsten Beads
Firehole Stones Neon Matte Tungsten Beads
Firehole Stones Neon Matte Tungsten Beads
Firehole Stones Neon Matte Tungsten Beads
Firehole Stones Neon Matte Tungsten Beads
Firehole Stones Neon Matte Tungsten Beads

Firehole Stones Neon Matte Tungsten Beads

$9.50
Hanak Fluo+ Slotted Tungsten Beads
Hanak Fluo+ Slotted Tungsten Beads

Hanak Fluo+ Slotted Tungsten Beads

$6.99
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub
Hare'e Ice Dub

Hare'e Ice Dub

$3.25
TMC 5263 Nymph & Streamer Hook
TMC 5263 Nymph & Streamer Hook

TMC 5263 Nymph & Streamer Hook

$38.05
Hanak H 230 BL Standard Nymph Hook
Hanak H 230 BL Standard Nymph Hook

Hanak H 230 BL Standard Nymph Hook

$8.95
Loon Fluorescing UV Clear Fly Finish (1/2oz)
Loon Fluorescing UV Clear Fly Finish (1/2oz)

Loon Fluorescing UV Clear Fly Finish (1/2oz)

$19.50
Midge Flash
Midge Flash

Midge Flash

$4.99
Hareline Mottled Tactical Tungsten Beads
Hareline Mottled Tactical Tungsten Beads

Hareline Mottled Tactical Tungsten Beads

$7.80
Firehole Sticks 633 Nymph & Wet
Firehole Sticks 633 Nymph & Wet

Firehole Sticks 633 Nymph & Wet

$8.35
Gritty Tungsten Beads
Gritty Tungsten Beads

Gritty Tungsten Beads

$9.49