Hi Aaron and Flyfisher,
To answer your questions. I have fished this fly in the surface when the stone flies were being blown to the water. I've also fished it on the swing using a hand twist retrieve. The fish do take it, and as you said, it works near the banks as well.
The dressing is as follows:
Hook: Mustad C53S or similar
Thread: Black Uni Thread 8/0
Hackle:One Starling tied through the thorax, and one tied at the collar (one wrap).
Ribbing: Black Krystal Flash
Abdomen: Dubbed to thread-black rabbit.
Thorax: Black rabbit dubbed Leisenring fashion.
A friend of mine wrote me this this past year regarding this fly,
"Mark,
Yesterday on the Yellowstone, I had forgotten the box of flies that the guide had picked out for our float trip, and we were scouring what I did have to see what might work. Your black flymph which I tied winter before last was the most productive of all the softies we found. The guide was quite intrigued, since he is a firm believer in soft hackled flies, so you may very well have started yet another fly revolution, this time on the Yellowstone.
Thanks for yet more fun on the water!"
Guess it works out west, too!
Mark