Stomach pump - water boatman and callibaetis nymphs

[CanoeGuy]

I almost never pump stomachs, but have been struggling early in the morning when fish are obviously feeding. I got one to eat a calli nymph and did a quick pump. Not much in there (I am not very good at it???) but, almost all of what I got was water boatman. Pretty cool little bugs.



I have thousands of flies, but don't fish water boatman. Anyone got a proven pattern? Thinking of trying this one:



Pumped another when I was doing well on calli nymphs and the result was mostly midges and calli nymphs with one big boatman. Crazy how many were still alive.



Image of a couple of the nymphs.



The pattern I use has a palmered ostrich herl body to imitate the gills - a variation of this.



I try to keep the thorax fairly thin and the legs are not nearly as prominent as the real thing. I will start making the thorax a bit fatter as the wing case is pretty big. Not sure I want to spend the time to make real looking legs tho. Anyway, also cool looking bugs - the gills look like little leaves.

 

[Buzzy]

Great photos!

I have multiple variations of boatman ties including some that are tan colored:

I do recommend using high quality hooks (and perhaps checking the hook once in awhile, especially if you miss a hard strike).




The fly one the left is a "snail" pattern that doubles quite well for a boatman. It's peacock herl body with Starling hackle

 

[Chucker]

Boatman with a silver tinsel body, dark pheasant back and legs has been a good one for me in the distant past. - though I think I’d probably use flexi floss or something for the legs these days.

Boatmen come up to the surface to get a bubble of air sometimes (hence the silver body). They make a little splash when they do that. When the fish are on them a weighted boatman is fun, because you cast right at the fish that are cruising and they turn and attack the boatman when they hear it plop into the water.

 

[CanoeGuy]

Boatman with a silver tinsel body, dark pheasant back and legs has been a good one for me in the distant past. - though I think I’d probably use flexi floss or something for the legs these days.

Boatmen come up to the surface to get a bubble of air sometimes (hence the silver body). They make a little splash when they do that. When the fish are on them a weighted boatman is fun, because you cast right at the fish that are cruising and they turn and attack the boatman when they hear it plop into the water.

Was wondering why I see them weighted. I will do some of each - thanks.