Halfback, Fullback SBS

[ScottP]

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





attach tying thread and make a smooth underbody





tie in wire rib




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





wrap forward





fold butts back





smooth over






tie in peacock herl (8-10 fibers)





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





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