These are the creations of Craig Matthew’s of Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone, MT. The interesting about Craig’s ( he is Mr. ZELON ) patterns is his attention to detail…and, I mean on the river, where it counts. By making a minor adjustment to this fly, he has adapted it to another midge that hatches in February on the Madison River. I am a believer in rigging one’s rod up – on the water. When I am sitting there, I may observe what is actually going on. Then, the thermometer comes out and I start rolling over rocks and, on occasion, use a mesh net to discover what is drifting in the water column…IT PAYS OFF…
CRAIG MATTHEW’S ZELON MIDGE
Like in this place…The Madison River, just above $3.00 Bridge…
CRAIG MATTHEW’S ZELON MIDGE
HOOK: TMC 2488, #20-#22
THREAD: Uni 8/0, Olive
SHUCK/TAIL: Dun Zelon
BODY: Tying thread
THORAX: Black rabbit and chopped Black Zelon -BRF has the mix
WING: Dun Zelon
This is the guy that takes fish during the coldest months on the Madison then:
“A Zelon Midge is my favorite adult-crippled midge pattern. I tie it in size 20 on a TMC 2488 hook. Most importantly though, for this time of year, I use a pheasant tail micro-zelon shuck, tiger beetle zelon dubbing, and a dark dun zelon wing. This is a dead ringer for midges on all Montana and Idaho midges emerging from Feb-April.”
From Craig Matthew’s Journal
CM’s ZELON MIDGE FOR FEBRUARY
$3.00 Bridge…the way I like it…no people…and, no snow yet…
Some inspection is in order to determine size/coloration changes in midges through the late Fall and Winter…wherever one fly fishes for Trout…FYI – I just noticed that MIDGE MAN is back up and running as POUDRE CANYON CHRONICLES. He is preparing to re-post a LOAD of Midge patterns…Might want to BOOKMARK his SITE…lotsa’ good stuff be going on over there…
NEXT: A pattern from Yellowstone that has been Maulin’ ‘em on the Madison and a Diving Female Baetis…
I have sent my R&D associate out to garner some EXPERT advice on the best winging material for that Baetis pattern…
She is seen here…in deep discourse with a “diving expert“…
PT/TB 
PLANETTROUT: Fly Fishing, Fly Tying and LIFE
