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A Fly Fisher's Guide to Identifying and Matching Midges: Part II

A Fly Fisher's Guide to Identifying and Matching Midges: Part II

the Midge Master: Part II

Having covered the characteristics that define each stage of the midge life cycle in last month's article The Midge Master: Part 1 it's time to take that knowledge into your fly box! With almost 17,000 species of midge populating North America's waters, it is easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of fly patterns sold by your local fly shop. Midges as a family are small in stature, and have minimal variation in wing, body shape, and color separating the different species. The best strategy therefore when seeking to match midges is to have a go-to selection of generalist and attractor patterns stocked in your fly box. These patterns should pack the necessary spark created by wire ribs, beadheads, or flashbacks to capture the trout's attention, while embracing a general midge body shape, size, and coloration allow each fly pattern to effectively match thousands of midge species instead of just one. Here is a list of my  Deadly Dozen Midges that will allow you to match more hatches with fewer flies and become a true Midge Master!


Midge Larva Patterns

Tied on hooks between size 14 - 24, midge larva flies provide a four season source of food for trout on both lakes and streams. Typically anchored to rocks along the bottom of the river or buried in the fine sediment on the bottom of a lake, midge larva are easily displaced from their perches and drifted into the paths of feeding trout. Flies created to imitate midge larva are usually tied to a curved hook, and are a constant diameter from abdomen to thorax, with one slightly thickened end closest to the eye of the hook to imitate the tiny head of the larva. 

Black Beauty Midge

Black Beauty

Dry/Wet: Wet

Fly Category: Generalist Pattern

Color: Black with Silver Rib

Hook Size: 18 - 24

Beadhead Zebra Midge

Beadhead Zebra Midge

Dry/Wet: Wet

Fly Category: Generalist Pattern

Color: Black, Olive, Brown, Grey, or Red with a Silver Rib

Hook Size: 14 - 20

Miracle Midge

Miracle Midge

Dry/Wet: Wet

Fly Category: Generalist Pattern

Color: White & Black with Silver Rib

Hook Size: 20 - 24

Jujubee Midge

Juju Midge

Dry/Wet: Wet

Fly Category: Attractor Pattern

Color: Black, Grey, Red, Olive, or White Ribs with a Flashback

Hook Size: 20 - 22

3D Epoxy Bloodworm

3D Epoxy Bloodworm

Dry/Wet: Wet

Fly Category: Attractor Pattern

Color: Red with Silver Rib

Hook Size: 18 - 22

Ian's Brass Ass

Ian's Brass Ass

Dry/Wet: Wet

Fly Category: Attractor Pattern

Color: Copper with Gold Wing Bud

Hook Size: 18 - 22


Midge Pupa Patterns

Spanning the distance from the bottom of the lake or river through the surface of the water, the emerging midge pupae offers some of the most consistent action for the fly fisher. Fished either with a dead drift in the current of a river, or a slow retrieve towards the surface of a lake, midges often emerge en masse, and trout will feast on the emerging pupa. While sharing many characteristics with midge larva patterns, midge pupa are tied with a thickened thorax, and elements that imitate emerging wings. Commonly tied to hooks between size 12-24, your broadest reaching patterns will be tied in sizes 16-22. 

Top Secret Midge

Top Secret Midge

Dry/Wet: Wet

Fly Category: Generalist Pattern

Color: Brown with White Rib

Hook Size: 18 - 24

Loopwing CDC Midge Emerger

Loopwing CDC Midge Emerger

Dry/Wet: Wet

Fly Category: Generalist Pattern

Color: Grey, Olive, or Black with Brass Rib

Hook Size: 18 - 22

gt perfect emerger

GT Perfect Emerger

Dry/Wet: Wet

Fly Category: Attractor Pattern

Color: Black, Olive, Grey, Red, or ICE with Flash Rib

Hook Size: 14 - 20


Adult Midge Patterns

Soon after the midge pupa leaves the water, they return as an adult to lay their eggs. Don't let the diminutive size of the adult midge intimidate you! Trophy sized trout will actively feed on midges at the surface of the water, and the fly fisher should be equipped with patterns in sizes 14-22 in order to take advantage of this action.

Matt's Hi-Vis Midge

Matt's Hi-Vis Midge

Dry/Wet: Dry

Fly Category: Generalist Pattern

Color: Black with Hi-Vis Wing

Hook Size: 18-22

Griffith's Gnat

Griffith's Gnat

Dry/Wet: Dry

Fly Category: Generalist Pattern

Color: Peacock, Olive, or Blonde

Hook Size: 18 - 22

Mosquite Dry Fly

Mosquito

Dry/Wet: Dry

Fly Category: True-Fly Pattern

Color: Salt & Pepper

Hook Size: 14 - 20

Armed with these  twelve go-to midge patterns, you should be locked and loaded for action during every phase of the midge hatch! You have now learned the way of the midge master! 

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