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January 2002
by Rich Johnson
Half-Back
Notes: This is a one of those patterns that has been on the fringe of the fly fishing world for a long time. Dave Ragsdale was the first one to tell me about the Half-Back nymph. We were discussing patterns that we fished with that were originated well before we had started fly fishing, most likely before we were born. Wet fly patterns such as the
Breadcrust, Wyoming Gimp, Grey Hackle Peacock, and one Dave's father use to rely on, the Half-Back nymph. The Half-Back was new to me, but it had all the ingredients of a great pattern. The three materials were in my opinion great fish catchers and it looked really buggy. Since that day I have run into other fishermen that carry a few Half-Backs in their boxes, usually in a corner reserved for those flies that we go to when our more modern and realistic imitations aren't working well. Late this September, when the rainbows in the Russian River got really fussy, the Half-Back accounted for two very nice fish.
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Hook: 2XL or 3XL
Thread: 6/0 black
Weight: as desired
Tail: Ringneck Pheasant tail fibers
Rear Wing Case: Ringneck Pheasant tail fibers
Abdomen: Peacock herl
Rear Hackle: Hen or Saddle, brown
Thorax: Peacock herl
Front Hackle: Hen or Saddle, brown
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1) This is one of those universal patterns that can be tied in a wide range of sizes. In "Fly Patterns of Alaska" (pg50) the recipe calls for a Mustad 9672 (3XL) size 2 to 10. I carry one size only for rainbows, a 2XL #8; and that's the hook shown here. Since I fish a lot of fast pocket water, I'm adding several wraps of .025 lead and binding it down with tying thread.
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2) Even the tips and cut six to eight fibers from the center quill of a Ringneck Pheasant tail. I look for a nice deep copper color for this fly. Tie them in above the point of the barb with a few turns forward.
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3) Bend the fibers back upon themselves and bind them to the rear, back to the first tie-in spot. Tie in six to eight peacock herls by their tips.
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4) Select a hen hackle (or saddle) whose fibers are just longer than the hook gape. Tie in by its tip and bring your thread just forward of the mid-point of the shank.
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5) Wrap the herl forward, tie off and trim the excess. Palmer the hackle forward, tie off and trim the excess.
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6) (Top view) While stroking the hackle fibers out of the way, bring the pheasant tail forward over the top, like a wing case. Secure with several wraps and trim the excess.
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7) Tie in six to eight peacock herls and another hackle. (The hackle fibers can be the same length or slightly longer.) Bring your thread to just behind the eye.
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8) Wrap the peacock herl, tie off and trim. Palmer the hackle, tie off and trim. Put on a couple of half-hitches and whip finish.
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9) The Half-Back from a quartering top view, showing its unique rear wing case. A version of this fly Dave also shared with me (though I've never fished it) is the Full-Back nymph. Simply add a second wing case of Pheasant tail on the thorax.
Tie up a couple Half-Backs and stick them in a back corner of your box. Next time those "regular" patterns aren't producing, tie one on, you might be surprised at the results.
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