Finally, next to the last day of the year. This group includes Larvae, Pupa, Emergers and Adults. Several are being tied for Michael to toss in some water back East. He’s gone on a dry fly bender, so a couple of these will meet his needs for catching some sippers and slurpers while his fingers freeze…I had an inquiry from a reader beyond the U.S. about where to find a substitute for the Iridescent Peacock colors from Spirit River in Europe. There ain’t none. I am not aware of anything (including the “other colored peacock” from a U.S. source) that even comes close to the quality of the SR material I use in many of my fly patterns…If ya’ want the real deal, SPIRIT RIVER will ship it to ya’ !… a tying friend of mine received it in Serbia…
Completed MIDGE BOX….
Miles says, “That’s just the way it is !”
TUNG. YQM MIDGE…
HOOK: Daiichi 1250, #18 – Gamakatsu 13U, #20
THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Black
SHUCK: UV Gray Krystal Flash
ABDOMEN: Synthetic Quill Body Wrap, Adams Gray – Hareline - * Coat with Hard As Hull for durability before and after wrapping
WING: CDC Puffs, White…more than one maybe needed
THORAX: Iridescent Peacock, Black – Spirit River
BEAD: Black Tungsten, sized to hook
YQM stands for…Yer’ Quillin’ ME…
Materials TUNG. YQM MIDGE…
TUNG. YQM MIDGES…
OLIVE QUILL MIDGE – Ritt/Variant ..
HOOK: TMC 103BL, #19 – #21
THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Olive
ABDOMEN: Baetis Olive, D’s Flyes, Quill - (* Soak in H2O, wrap, then coat wit Hard As Hull) or use McLean’s Quill Bodies
WING: Sparkle Organza, White
WING CASE/ FORWARD POST: Hi-Vis, Yellow
HACKLE: Olive Grizzly, v-notched
This is an Al Ritt pattern with which, I used a different quill and indicator yarn for the wing case and post (I generally see yellow better). It is an easy tie and may be done in a range of colors for dry fly fanatics like my son…(sigh…)
Materials OLIVE QUILL MIDGE…
OLIVE QUILL MIDGES…
Good place for Midges and Midge clusters……in the back eddy on the left…Lower Owens River…
UV CHOCOLATE MIDGLING – Mercer/Variant …
HOOK: Daiichi 1130, #18 – #22
THREAD: Under Abdomen – Tiemco 16/0, White / Thorax Forward – Tiemco 16/0, Dark Brown
SHUCK: AZ Diamond Hair, #.7, Lt. Purple
OVER ABDOMEN: Pearl Krystal Flash then Micro Tubing, Brown
RIB: Lagartun, x-fine, Silver Wire
THORAX: Iridescent Peacock, Black - Spirit River
WING(s): Looped UV Pearl Krystal Flash
BEAD: Silver Tungsten, sized to hook
Mike Mercer came up with this California variant on the Zebra Midge and his pattern works very well here and in most other places too. The original may be viewed on Steve Schalla’s Site (scroll down). I wanted some in Chocolate for the Lower Owens River…
Materials UV CHOCOLATE MIDGLING…
UV CHOCOLATE MIDGLINGS…
OPAL SUSPENDER MIDGE EMERGER – Cannon/Matthews Variant …
HOOK: Daiichi 1167, #20 or TMC 2488, #18 – #22
THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Black
SHUCK: AZ Simi Seal, #.34, Crayfish Orange
ABDOMEN; Micro Opal Flashabou, 1/100″ – * Coat thread with HAH or SHAN, ten wrap Opal Flashabou
RIB: Black,x-sm UTC Wire – * Coat again with HAH orSHAN for durability
UPRIGHT WING: Snowshoe Hare White and Black mixed
THORAX: Stalcup’s Micro Fine Dub., Black
A Jim Cannon pattern with a hint of Craig Matthews (with the Opal Abdomen)…the original is HERE … another basic Midge Emerger that may be tied in a number of colors with a wing that will keep the pattern in the meniscus… like a cork
Same pattern…Wing Schollmeyer style…
Materials OPAL SUSPENDER MIDGE EMERGER…
OPAL SUSPENDER MIDGE EMERGERS…
(DIRTY) SPIDER MIDGE (Olive) – Matthews/Variant…
HOOK: Daiichi 1250, #18, TMC 206BL, #20, Gamakatsu 13U, #20
THREAD: Abdomen – Gordon Griffith 14/0 Sheer, Olive / Thorax forward – Tiemco 16/0, Black
ABDOMEN: Gordon Griffith 14/0 Sheer, Olive
RIB: Lagartun, x-fine, Copper Wire – * Coat with HAH or SHAN for durability
THORAX: Fly-Rite, x-fine Poly, #.10, Brown/Olive
WING CASE/ WING: MP Select CDC, Dirty Yellow
HACKLE: Olive Grizzly
Delicious !!!…another winner from Craig Matthews … a good flat water pattern for below…not the choppy stuff in the center …when Michael wants to work the surface…and maybe the “old guy” when hen sees Michael nailing ‘em…
There might be some Olive Midges in this water…maybe…
Materials (DIRTY) SPIDER MIDGE (Olive)…
(DIRTY) SPIDER MIDGES (Olive)…
RED MORSEL MIDGE …
HOOK: Daiichi 1153, #18, Gamakatsu C-12B, #18 – #20
THREAD: Under Abdomen, Tiemco 16/0, White / Thorax Forward – Tiemco 16/0, Black
ABDOMEN: DNA Holo Fusion – 8 strands Red / 1 Strand Flash – * Coat with HAH or SHAN
THORAX: Iridescent Peacock, Purple – Spirit River
Red is a Midge color that has worked for me at various times on the East Walker and other places when oxygen levels are fairly low, in the water. These two articles HERE and HERE explain why certain Midges are Red and when they should be considered for use…
Materials RED MORSEL MIDGE…
RED MORSEL MIDGES…
UV BLUE WISP SH MIDGE …
HOOK: Daiichi 1110 – #18 – #22
THREAD: Under abdomen – Tiemco 16/0, White / Thorax forward – Tiemco 16/0, Black
ABDOMEN: Krystal Flash UV Blue
RIB: Lagartun, x-fine, Silver Wire – * Coat with HAH or SHAN
THORAX: Hare’s Ear Ice Dub, Harder’s Bloody Black
HACKLE: Starling feather, Blue (dyed) – White Fox Fur & Feather Co. or HERE
Another small Midge pattern in Blue. Use any number of UV Krystal Flash colors over White thread to make these little guys with a dark-ish Thorax. Starling is a particularly good feather for soft hackling these small Midges and if ya’ have to ask “Why over white thread ?”…ya’ ain’t been reading the BLOG…
Materials UV BLUE WISP SH MIDGE…
UV BLUE WISP SH MIDGES…
MIDGES….coming along…slowly…
BP MIDGE LARVA (Brown)…
HOOK: Daiichi 1130, #18 – #22
THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Olive – Abdomen / Tiemco 16/0, Black – Head
ABDOMEN: Working thread, Olive
RIB: Ice Thread, Yellow – * Coat with SHAN or HAH for durability
A very simple Midge pattern with a high contrast ribbing that hardly anyone uses…something different for the Lower Owens River where Brown Midges are prevalent throughout the year…
Materials BP MIDGE LARVA (Brown)…
BP MIDGES – Brown Larva…
STUCK SHUCK MIDGE – Luallen/Variant (Cream) …
HOOK: Daiichi 1130, #18 – #24
THREAD: Abdomen – Tiemco 16/0, White / Thorax forward – Tiemco 16/0, Dark Brown
SHUCK: Darlon, Amber
ABDOMEN: Working Tiemco 16/0, White Thread
RIB: Lagartun, x-fine, Copper Wire – * Coat with SHAN or HAH for durability
WING: MP Select CDC, Lt. Mallow
ABDOMEN: Beaver dubbing, Dark Tan
HACKLE: Ginger Grizzly, V-notched
This is a Wayne Luallen pattern I specifically tied for those occasions that Cream Adult Midges are in and on the surface of the East Walker River. There are major hatches of these Midges (in Cream) in late May and at other times during the year on this water. Most anglers that visit the EWR are not even aware of their importance much less have a single pattern in their boxes that imitates them…that’s OK with me…
There are prolific hatches of Cream Midges on the East Walker River…the adults are most readily seen at dawn and sunset…The MOO knows about them…
Materials STUCK SHUCK MIDGE…
STUCK SHUCK MIDGES…
GRAY XMAS MIDGE …
HOOK: Daiichi 1130, #18 – #22
THREAD: Under Abdomen – Tiemco 16/0, White / Thorax forward, Tiemco 16/0, Black
SHUCK: UV Pearl Krystal Flash
OVER ABDOMEN: DNA Holo Fusion, Gray – 8 strands Gray / 1 strand Flash
RIB: Red Ice Thread – * Coat with HAH or SHAN for durability
WING: Sparkle Organza, Dun
THORAX: Iridescent Peacock, Red – Spirit River
BEAD: Black Tungsten, sized to hook
Gray is a color that is often overlooked when it comes to color for Midge patterns.The Trout don’t overlook them – when they are present…have some in yer’ box…
Materials GRAY XMAS MIDGE…
GRAY XMAS MIDGES…
Tying at Bob Marriott’s Fly Fishing Fair, November 22-23, 2014…
K-SS PT MIDGE EMERGER- (RED)…
HOOK: Daiichi 1167, #18 – #20
THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Black
ABDOMEN: Red Pheasant Tail Fibers
RIB: Lagartun, x-fine, Silver Wire
WING CASE/WING: Snowshoe Rabbit, White or Cream
THORAX: Iridescent Peacock, Black – Spirit River
This is a suspender Midge pattern using the Daiichi “Klinkhammer Hook” that comes in black nickel or bronze. Do not be opposed to using Pheasant Tail fibers for patterns with abdomens that hang below the surface film. Once well soaked, they are very effective. I usually will cut Snow Shoe hair wings with scissors (like Jim Schollmeyer does) rather than lining up the tips…the Trout don’t care and it’s faster. One may substitute Poly Yarn,Puglisi Trigger Point Int’l Fibers, CDC , Foam or Electronic packaging for the Wing Case and Wing..all float better than deer hair…If desired, put a shuck on it…
Materials K-SS PT MIDGE EMERGER- (RED)…
K-SS PT MIDGES…
NANO DNA CB MIDGE …
HOOK: Daiichi 1250, #18 – Gamakatsu 13U, #20
THREAD: Nano Silk, White, 18/0
SHUCK: Crystal Mirror Flash, Pearl – Cascade Crest
ABDOMEN: DNA Holo Fusion, Blue – 8 strands Blue / 1 strand Flash
RIB: Lagartun, x-fine, Copper Wire – *Coat with HAH or SHAN for durability
WING(s): Grizzly Krystal Flash – Copper/Blue
THORAX: Ice Dub, UV Dun
BEAD: Copper Tungsten, sized to hook
I am using the White, Semperfli, Nano Silk in 18/0 as the base for this pattern. It is slippery as all get out so I use two half hitches to secure it to the hook when first wrapping it on the shank. For this pattern, it adds to the translucence of the abdomen and as a refltor for the UV Ice Dub in the Thorax. Blue is a color, in Midges and other patterns, that have taken good fish for me and the crew throughout the year, for Rainbows and Browns – not just in the Winter. Michael got the Brown below on a “Moo’s Blue Midge” on the East Walker River in September…
Michael’s Birthday Brown…East Walker River…as my friend, Jim Reid, who owns Ken’s Sporting Goods, in Bridgeport, CA, once said – “There are times when Browns ‘turn on’ to the color Blue.” Best to have some when THAT happens…
Materials NANO DNA CB MIDGE…
NANO DNA CB MIDGES…
MATT’S MIDGE PW – Matt Miles/Variant…
HOOK: Daiichi 1110, #18 – #24
THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Black
ABDOMEN: Working thread
WING: Pearlescent White Nymph Shear – Cascade Crest
WING CASE/ FORWARD INDICATOR: Poly Yarn, Orange
HACKLE: Grizzly, V-notched a bottom for a lower profile, if desired
A Matt Miles pattern…he worked for Pat Dorsey in CO and may have fished a Midge or two while there. It is an excellent flat water pattern. There are many stretches of such water on both the Lower Owens and East Walker Rivers, where this pattern will take fish that are picking off adults, drifting in the current…
Materials MATT’S MIDGE PW...
A gathering of MATT’S MIDGES…
TAN DNA/ICE LARVA MIDGE …
HOOK: Daiichi 1130, #18 – #22
THREAD: Abdomen- Tiemco 16/0, White / Head-Tiempo 16/0, Black
OVER ABDOMEN: Tan DNA Holo Fusion – 8-10 strands solid color / 1 strand flash
RIB: Rusty Brown Ice Thread – * Coat with HAH or SHAN for durability
Just a simple little Tan Midge Larva that has flash , translucence and segmentation – that is fairly “tooth proof” when coated…I do these in a bunch of colors using DNA Holo Fusion. It is good stuff !
Materials TAN DNA/ICE LARVA MIDGE…
TAN DNA/ICE LARVA MIDGES…
The Lower Owens River at dawn…in the late Fall…
KIMBALL’S EMERGER TP MIDGE – Mike Kimball/Variant …
HOOK: TMC 2488, #20 – #28
THREAD:Tiemco 16/0, Black
SHUCK: Natural Teal Flank (Midges do not have tails!)
ABDOMEN: Working thread
THORAX: Stalcup’s Micro Fine Dub, Black or omit on smaller sizes
WING CASE: Puglisi Trigger Point Int’l fibers, Dun (use a dubbing needle to “hump” it and it will trap air beneath and it will float mo’ better’)
HACKLE: Grizzly – notched at bottom
This along with Matt’s Midge (above), “V-Midge” are three excellent dry patterns to use when the tiny guys are drying their wings before becoming airborne and yes, I will use them from time to time…Michael, now an expatriate to the East, uses dry patterns of all types more frequently than I do…
Materials KIMBALL’S EMERGER TP MIDGE…
KIMBALL’S EMERGER TP MIDGES…
UV PURPLE CHASER MIDGE…
HOOK: Daiichi 1250, #18, Gamakatsu 13U, #20
THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Black
UNDER ABDOMEN: Krystal Flash UV Purple
SHUCK: Tag end of the above UV Purple Krystal Flash
OVER ABDOMEN: Micro Tubing Purple
THORAX: Hare’s Ear Ice Dub, Harder’s Bloody Black
BEAD: Killer Caddis Diamond Bead, x-sm
*NOTE: On this pattern, tie the UV Purple KF and Micro Tubing on behind the bead, wrap the KF around the hook to the bend first, hold it in the material clip on the vise and then wrap the Micro Tubing back to the bend, then forward, decreasing the tension as ya’ wrap forward…tie off at the thorax…
One may also use a TMC 200r or Daiichi 1270 for this guy but I prefer the hook gape and shape on the Keel hooks listed with the pattern. Any combo of KF and Micro Tubing may be conjured up for this fly…go for it !
Materials UV PURPLE CHASER MIDGE…
UV PURPLE CHASER MIDGES…
OWENS VALLEY in Winter….
DIS’-GO UV MIDGE (Gray) …
HOOK: Daiichi 1130, #18 – #22
THREAD: Under abdomen – Tiemco 16/0, White / Thorax forward – Tiemco 16/0, Black
RIB: UTC Wire, Gun Metal Blue, x-sm
OVER ABDOMEN: UV Gray Krystal Flash – * Coat with HAH or SHAN for durability
THORAX: Iridescent Peacock, Kingfisher Blue – Spirit River
These may be tied using any of the UV colored Krystal Flash products. Use WHITE THREAD beneath the flash…hit it with yer’ UV Torch after completion and watch it light up…reflectivity is the purpose for using that combination and for me, it works…
Materials DIS’-GO UV MIDGE (Gray)…
DIS’-GO UV MIDGES…
TUNGSTEN OPAL FLASHBACK BLACK BEAUTY – Dorsey/Variant…
HOOK: Daiichi 1130 -TMC 2487, #18 – #22
THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Black
RIB: Lagartun, X-fine, Copper Wire
FLASHBACK: Flasabou, Opal, 1/100″ – *Coat with Hard As Hull or SHAN for durability
THORAX: Iridescent Black Peacock – Spirit River
BEAD: Black Tungsten, sized to hook
A variation on Pat Dorsey’s pattern which may be tied in a number of colors. This uses Opal instead of Pearl for the Flashback…It is a good deep water pattern…One may also use Ostrich Herl for the thorax but I am a big fan of the Iridescent Peacock colors from Spirit River…
Materials TUNGSTEN OPAL FLASHBACK BLACK BEAUTY...
TUNGSTEN OPAL FLASHBACK BLACK BEAUTIES…
MORE MIDGE PATTERNS – scroll down
Next: Some patterns for Michael…
PT/TB
PLANETTROUT: Fly Fishing, Fly Tying and LIFE
