What is the best midge pattern?

Top 10 Midge Patterns for Tailwaters

• Twilight Midge (sizes 18 & 20)
• Smokejumper (sizes 18 & 20)
• Root Beer Midge (sizes 18 & 20)
• Red and Black Midge (sizes 18 & 20)
• Zebra Midge (sizes 18 & 20)
• Skittering Midge (sizes 18 & 20)
• The Renegade (sizes 18 & 20)
• Parrott’s Chironoflash Pupa (sizes 18 & 20)

What is a midge fly pattern?

Midge pupa patterns sometimes look similar to RS2s, with a thread body and a bit of flash, dubbing, or feather near the head. Some are bare enough to be almost nymph-like, while others are gaudy enough to be close to an adult.

What does a zebra midge fly imitate?

And many competent nymph anglers find the Zebra Midge only marginally successful. As with most flies, success with this diminutive nymph is all in the presentation. The Zebra Midge is a nymph that imitates midge pupae and/or emerging midges.

What color are midges?

Midge larvae are found in a wide range of colors including blood red, pale olive, gray, brown, and black. Most midge larvae are between 3 and 10 millimeters—about the length of a size 16 to 22 long-shank hook. Many anglers overlook fishing larvae imitations, which can be a huge mistake.

What does a midge fly look like?

Being true flies, midges (in the family Chironomidae) have only one pair of wings. They look a lot like mosquitoes: small and dainty, rather soft-bodied, with long, narrow wings and long, skinny legs; males often have feathery antennae, used for sensing the high-pitched sounds of female wings.

Is a midge a dry fly?

Most adult midges are black. The profile of this fly is a very nice match for most adult midges. The light colored wing post makes the black midge easily visible. This dry fly midge pattern is designed with a “trailing shuck”, which looks like the exoskeleton from the emerged nymph.

What does a chubby Chernobyl imitate?

The Chubby Chernobyl hails from Idywilde Flies out of Portland, Oregon. The Chubby Chernobyl is a great attractor pattern that can be used to “match the hatch” to imitate Golden Stoneflies, hoppers or Salmon flies depending on size, shape, and color. It is one of the most popular flies in the industry.

What are the best Midge patterns for tailwaters?

Top 10 Midge Patterns for Tailwaters Author Orvis StaffPosted on February 22, 2017February 28, 2017Categories Fly FishingTags fly-fishing tips, montana fly fishing, top 10 flies Written by: Bryen Venema, Bighorn Angler Orvis Charlotte Store Manager Mary Griffin caught this 22-inch South Holsten brown on a tiny midge imitation. Photo by Trey Oliver

Do you need Midge patterns for fly fishing?

Midge patterns form an essential part of any fly box throughout the fishing year. So, before you dash off on your next fishing expedition, be sure to equip yourself with a few of these ‘killer’ midge patterns. And we’re here to help you with nine essential options.

How big do midges get in a river?

#1 Tie Small: There are very few midges that are bigger than a size #16 hook in rivers. Lakes can get down to size #12 at times, but most places you’re going to do best in sizes #18-22 and in winter, up to the #24-26 range.

What kind of midge does Pat Dorsey use?

Notes: This pattern was invented by my son Forrest Dorsey. The Manhattan Midge combines the best attributes of the Mercury Blood Midge, Mercury Black Beauty, and Top Secret Midge into one pattern that has fooled selective trout all over the country. In addition to black, try tying it red, and purple.