Halfback, Fullback SBS

Backfield options - I-Formation, T-Formation, Wishbone? I've seen a lot of variations on these two - hackle/no hackle, shellback on the front/shellback on the rear. Whichever way, they make for interesting flies; the Halfback works as a river stonefly/general attractor nymph or a dragonfly nymph in stillwaters. Lots of steps are the same; things start to veer at midfield.

hook - Mustad 9671 #8
thread - UTC 140 black
weight - non-toxic wire .030
tail/shellback - pheasant tail fibers
body -peacock herl
rib - copper wire small
hackle - brown

Part 1 (Halfback)


mash barb and wrap midsection of shank with non-toxic lead sub

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2357.jpg



attach tying thread and make a smooth underbody

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2358.jpg



tie in wire rib

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2363.jpg


measure a clump (8-10) of pheasant tail fibers (hook gap distance) and tie in

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2365.jpg



wrap forward

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2367.jpg



fold butts back

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2370.jpg



smooth over

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2372.jpg




tie in peacock herl (8-10 fibers)

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2375.jpg



twist herl around tying thread and wrap forward to 60% mark (note tapered body; again, victory for the blind squirrel) and tie off

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2378.jpg



prep a saddle hackle (don't need dry fly quality) undersize by 2 (for this #8 hook, go with #12 saddle)

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2381.jpg

Part 2 (Halfback)




wrap hackle back to tail, then wrap wire forward, trapping hackle; helicopter wire and wrap end

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2385.jpg




pull shellback fibers forward and tie off

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2387.jpg


http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2388.jpg




tie in another hackle (undersize by 1)

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2390.jpg




tie in another clump of peacock herl

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2395.jpg




twist herl around thread, wrap forward and tie off

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2397.jpg




wrap hackle forward, tie off and apply cement

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2400.jpg




top view

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2407.jpg

Part 3


we'll pick up the Fullback where the tail fibers are wrapped in

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2409.jpg




since the shellback extends the full length of the fly (hence the name), I need longer fibers so I can't bend the tail back; tie in another clump of Pheasant tail

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2411.jpg




tie in peacock

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2417.jpg




twist peacock with thread and wrap forward to head (I crowded a bit here; leave 1 hook eye gap)

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2419.jpg




tie in saddle hackle

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2422.jpg




wrap hackle to the rear, trap with wire and spiral rib forward

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2425.jpg




pull shellback forward

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2432.jpg




tie off, cement and you're done

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2433.jpg




top view

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2437.jpg



Regards,
Scott

Nice tie, but odd bug. Any idea what the history of this fly is?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by whatfly

Any idea what the history of this fly is?

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Dunno. Charlie Craven (version presented in the SBS) says the Halfback's an older pattern used throughout Colorado/Wyoming. Phil Rowley, from Fly Patterns for Stillwaters, claims this version has it's roots in British Columbia:


http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2453.jpg


Found this version (same fly without the tail) in Flies of the Northwest:


http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2441.jpg




Saw another Halfback in Randall Kaufmanns' American Nymph Fly Tying Manual with hackle tail, peacock body, partridge wing and hackle beard. Apparently it's a name that gets around.

Regards,
Scott

One other change I'll make is to make one wrap of wire to trap the hackle tip at the back end:

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_2426.jpg


pull the shellback over the abdomen and then complete the ribbing; otherwise that pheasant could get shredded quickly (assuming the fish are interested). Same would apply for the Fullback.

Regards,
Scott

Scott
This is one of the most successful patterns I have ever used and tied. I have been using it since the late 1970's.
If you can find a copy of "Fly Tyer Magazine" dated August 1981 There is an article written by the creator "Nathan Winter Streeter" that explains the way the fly was originally tied. It also says he created for the North Platte River in Wyoming. It was designed for the Dobsonfly and not as a stonefly as is generally believed . I got this from a personal conversation with Mr Steeter himself. But as he also said it works as "juicy morsel" especially for Brown trout. A very interesting article. Just thought I would pass it on.
Nice Tie and correctly tied per the original.
Regard,
Larry

Scott,

Great pattern and an effective one. I've not fished or tied the haflback in years. But still tie and fish the fullback. The only thing different that I do, is wrap the wire last and over-wrap the turkey as well.

Ralph