…comes together !!!
Back in November 2009, I designed this Midge pattern for a friend who was not entirely convinced about the effectiveness of the color PURPLE:
KEITH’S PURPLE DISBELIEF
HOOK: Mustad C49S, #18 – # 22
THREAD: Gordon Griffiths 14/0 Sheer Black, UTC 70, Dark Gray
ABDOMEN: Gray Tying Thread
OVERABDOMEN: Hareline Stalcup’s Micro Tubing, Clear
RIB: Wapsi, Wine, X-SM
WING: Royal Blue Krystal Flash, 3 strands
THORAX: ICE DUB, UV Dun
BEAD: Spirit River, Charcoal Metallic, SM
There is an acquaintance of mine named KEITH who squawked “PURPLE?” when he saw this pattern on my FB page. Well, he will squawk directly to his vise when I post some photos on his wall of just what this fly, in this color, can do. And, having named it after him, I will live rent free in his head…forever…heh,heh…
He caught this FINGERLING on the Lower Kings River, near Fresno, CA…earlier this week – on that Midge...and NO, it did not take him 3 1/2 years to catch a fish on this fly. He has caught numerous ‘Bows and Browns, on this pattern, on the East Walker and Owens Rivers…
Per Keith : ” Early AM, heavy cloud cover, brisk as you mentioned. Size 18 on 5X, Fish taped 27″x20″. Estimated at 12lbs +. I;m REALLY liking the pattern.”
PT/TB 
PLANETTROUT: Fly Fishing, Fly Tying and LIFE
Purple is good. Yes indeed.
Wow very cool. I just finished making my first fly rod and I used purple, so I will have to tie some of these flies and see if they work here in Eugene
Miss P.
They will work !!!
PT/TB
great looking midge! i do have some questions about how this is put together. not certain if this is the right spot to do it?
Darin,
Give it a shot !!!
PT/TB
i was curious why the two colors of thread? and secondly how the abdomen looks so purpley if it’s just clear tubing over gray thread with the wire rib? other than that, i think i can figure it out. thanks
Darin,
The rib , which is wine colored, gives the abdomen a purple cast (over the clear micro tubing), in sunlight – where this photo was taken. I switched threads for the thorax and behind the bead because Gordon Griffiths 14/0 Sheer, has a smaller diameter than the UTC 70 Denier, Gray. If I tied some up NOW, I would use Tiemco 16/0 Black, which is the finest thread I have found for small flies. The UV Dun dubbing used in the Thorax also took on a purple cast, in direct sunlight…
Hope this helps !
PT/TB
thank you very much. this will be a very productive fly on the tailwaters i fish.
Purple is a great color for midges and it is also effective for hopper patterns!
Jim B
Jim,
I have also found that it works for May Flies and Caddis, as well !!!
PT/TB