FILL THE FLY BOX – Midges and MORE – (BOX now FILLED)…

Well, it is getting to be about that time…for the annual trek up to the East Side for a week or more with Michael. Michael, however, now makes his home with Aimee on the East Coast…so this year, it’s me and ALLY and HERO who will be traveling up Hwy. 395 ,to work the waters of the East Walker River and some other places that are Ally’s favorites. As usual, I will put up a photo of the pattern, add a photo of the materials used, then… describe the make-up of the pattern along with some relevant information…there are 18 patterns in this post…

Midge patterns are effective ALL year round…

Finished Midge Box – May 2013…

F.Y.I – and WHY there are so many Nymph, Emerger and Cripple patterns found herein –

From the Winter 2013 Issue: Flyfishing & Tying Journal, “Water Entomology to Fly-Fish By”, Dave Whitlock, ppgs. 16-21…

THE MOST IMPORTANT WATER COLUMN POSITIONS TO FISH AQUATIC INSECTS, IN ORDER OF EFFECTIVENESS:

1. Fly one to six inches above stream bottom.

2. Fly moving upward (emerging) from bottom to surface.

3. Fly resting just under the surface film.

4. Fly resting on the surface film.

5. Fly actively twitching or skittering over the surface film.

PT and Ally on the Madison River, MT…one of my favorite photos of Ally taken by Michael…

The magnetized Fly Box from Angler’s Image…without the completed Midge patterns…good for all kinds of small patterns !!!

Ally and Hero, above Lone Pine Creek, on our arrowhead finding – target shooting – photo taking trek in March of this year…

PT workin’ the small stuff on the East Walker River…

SUBTLE MIDGE (Tan)…

Michael, with one of the East Walker “minnows” that hopped on a Midge pattern….

Materials for the SUBTLE MIDGE…

HOOK: Daiichi 1130, #18 – #22

THREAD Under Abdomen – Tiemco 16/0, White – Head – Tiemco 16/0, Dark Brown

RIB: Ice Thread, Brown

ABDOMEN: 5-6 strands of Nymph Shear, Amber

A simple, quick tie for that Cream-ish Tan Midge Larva on the East Walker River… Also, tie this one in Gray with a Black Ice Thread rib and a short Grizzly Krystal Flash, Black/White wing for that same water…

QUICKSILVER MIDGE (Olive) – Gamakatsu C12-B, #18 – #20…

HOOK: Gamakatsu C12-B, #18 – #20

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Olive

TAIL/SHUCK: Krystal Flash, Olive

RIB: Ultra Wire, Red, X-sm

UNDER ABDOMEN: Working Thread

ABDOMEN: 6 strands, Pale Olive Nymph Shear – Cascade Crest Tools

WING: Single Strand Grizzly Krystal Flash, Black/Red – pulled back and slightly upwards from the sides…

THORAX: Dyed Red Peacock Herl – Wapsi * (not pictured)

BEAD: Hi-Lite Glass Bead, Quicksilver – Spirit River or Diamond Bead – Killer Caddis or Silver Tungsten Bead

When using Nymph Shear, the color of the thread beneath the material can influence the final color of the abdomen…play around with various colors of Gordon Griffith 14/0 Sheer, Veevus 16/0, Lagartun 74 denier or Tiemco 16/0 to get the color desired, to match the Midges on the water one will be working – and a lot of good practice in the process…

Materials for QUICKSILVER MIDGE…

SHEAR MIDGE (Brown) …

Materials for the SHEAR MIDGE (Brown)…

HOOK: Daiichi 1130, #18 – #20

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Dark Brown – Tiemco 16/0, Black – Thorax forward

TAIL/SHUCK: Midge Flash, Pearl

RIB: Lagartun x-Fine Wire, Gold

ABDOMEN: 5-6 strands Nymph Shear, Brown – Cascade Crest Tools

WING: White Zelon

THORAX: Iridescent Black Peacock Herl – Spirit River

BEAD: Gold Tungsten or Brass, stuffed with wrapped .010 Lead

SILVER TUNG DEVIL MIDGE …

Materials SILVER TUNG DEVIL MIDGE…

HOOK: Daiichi 1130, #18 – #22

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, White – Under Abdomen – Gordon Griffith 14/0 Sheer, Brown – untwisted – Thorax Forward

TAIL/SHUCK: 6-8 short strands, Amber Darlon

ABDOMEN: 2 strands Gray Ice Thread, 1 strand Black Ice Thread

WING: Sparkle Emerger Yarn, Gray

THORAX: Nature’s Spirit Fine Natural Dubbing, #.8, Brown/Olive

BEAD: Tungsten Nickel (Silver), sized to hook

Something toned down in Earth accent colors for those times that the Trout are not into a real flashy, Midhe Pupa pattern…

CHOCOLATE FLASH FOAM EMERGER MIDGE – Barela/Variant…

Materials CHOCOLATE FLASH FOAM EMERGER MIDGE …

HOOK: TMC 206BL, #18 – #20 or Daiichi 1140, #18 -#22

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Dark Brown

TAIL/SHUCK: DNA Holo Fusion, Brown – Short Flashy strand (Not pictured)…the stand separates, *that is normal for this material

RIB: Lagartun x-fine Copper Wire – * coat with hard As Hull for durability

WING: 1mm closed cell foam – White

THORAX: Arizona Synthetic Dubbing – Chocolate

This is a variation on Jeremy Barela’s Chocolate Foam Emerger…a standard on the San Juan River…he has some other interesting Midge patterns HERE

MOCHA MIDGE…

Michael works a Cream Midge on the East Walker River…

Materials for MOCHA MIDGE…

HOOK:  Daiichi 1130, #18 – #22

THREAD: Under abdomen – Tiemco 16/0, White – Thorax forward, – Tiemco 16/0, Brown

TAIL/SHUCK: Krystal Flash, Root Beer, short strand

ABDOMEN: 2 strands White Super Hair, 1 strand Dark Brown Super Hair

WING: 6-8 Strands , White Fluoro Fiber

THORAX: (Over White thread) – UV 2 Fine & Dry, Rust

BEAD: Tungsten Nickel, sized to hook

Another Cream-ish Midge Pupa pattern that emphasizes translucence and segmentation, two important factors ( I believe ) for consistent “finny” attraction to Midge patterns…that’s why I play with materials like Super Hair, Nymph Shear and Ice Thread…

JUJU FLASH MIDGE – Craven/Variant …

Materials JUJU FLASH MIDGE…

HOOK:  Gamakatsu C 12-B, #18 – #20

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, White – Under abdomen -Tiemco16/0, Black – Thorax forward

ABDOMEN: Two strands Red Super Hair – 1 Strand White Super Hair

WINGS: Grizzly Krystal Flash, Black/Red…1 strand tied in at sides and pulled up slightly

THORAX: Black Iridescent Peacock Herl – Spirit River

BEAD: Black Tungsten or Brass stuffed with wraps of .010 lead, sized to hook

Just a variant on Charlie Craven’s great JuJu series tied on a red hook with emphasis on the color red …This color work well on occasion on Eastern Sierra tail waters and there are always some in my box(s)…

WITCH DOCTOR MIDGE (Cream) …

* My Panasonic Lumix with the Leica lense went to purple LCD Screen this AM which probably means that the CCD Chip went South…so, the photos are being taken with another camera until the Lumix is repaired or I move to something else in the Panasonic line with a comparable lense…please bear with me…

Materials for WITCH DOCTOR MIDGE (Cream)…

HOOK: TMC 2499 SP BL. #18 or TMC 2488, #18 – #22

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, White – Abdomen – Tiemco16/0, Brown – Thorax and Head

RIB: Lagartun x-fine Copper Wire

ABDOMEN: White Tiemco 16/0 tying thread – * Coast with SHAN

WINGS: 3 strands Krystal Flash, UV Gray

THORAX: Fluff from the base of a Grizzly Hen Neck Feather, dub on thread with saliva – NO WAX !!!

A Midge Pupa pattern for the ubiquitous Cream Midge found on the East Walker River and many other moving waters as well…hang this one off a lead dry at least two sizes larger…a Mike Mercer “Missing Link” Caddis would be a good one for that river…

Gettin’ there…and always one guy out of place…recipes on these starting 4.27…DONE !!!

N.O.T.E.  MIDGE…

Materials N.O.T.E. MIDGE…

HOOK:  Daiichi 1130, #18 – #20

THREAD:  Tiemco 16/0, Black

TAIL/SHUCK: Short strand, Mirage Accent Opal

RIB: 1 strand Midge Rainbow Flash – Cascade Crest or Midge Flash, Pearl

OVER ABDOMEN: 1/8″ Clear Stretch Flex – tip cut to a point before tying in

WING: CDC White

THORAX: Midge Ice Braid, purple  – #18, 3 turns or wraps – #20, two turns or wraps

Something else in Black that could also be done with Cream, Gray, Tan, Blue, Olive , Red or Purple thread…one may take their pick from Veevus, Tiemco, Lagartun 74 Denier or Gordon Griffith Sheer 14/0. Those are some of the colors and thread I use for Midges… and there are a lot of different bead colors to choose from…

The “old guy” has something on…on the East Walker River…

VOODOO MIDGE (Olive) – Smethurst/Variant …

Materials VOODOO MIDGE (Olive) – Smethurst/Variant…

HOOK: Daiichi 1150, #18 or Daiichi 1140, #18-#22

THREAD: Gordon Griffith Sheer 14/0, Red

ABDOMEN: Stripped Peacock Quill dyed Olive..soak in water before use …allow portions of the thread beneath to be visible – * coat with Hard As Hull for durability

WINGS: Krystal Flash, UV Pearl

THORAX: Fluff from the base of a Brahma Soft Hackle Feather, Mottled Gray – Whiting

A bit more like the original Smethurst pattern…HERE are some oth Peacock Quills from Poland, that might strike one’s fancy for use in this pattern, since Spirit River no longer offers the dyed versions…

DIAMOND BEAD “ZEEB” SH MIDGE – (PT & GROUSE)…

Materials for DIAMOND BEAD “ZEEB” SH MIDGE – (PT & GROUSE)…

HOOK:  TMC 101, #18 – #22

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Black

TAIL/SHUCK: Krystal Flash, Hot Orange

ABDOMEN: Ringneck Pheasant Tail, Black

RIB: Ultra Wire, Silver, x-sm

THORAX: Killer Caddis Diamond Bead, sized to hook

HACKLE: English Grouse – I V notch the feather, two soft loops of thread and spin it around the hook shank – use finger nails to spread evenly

Yes, a soft hackle Zeb(ra) Midge pattern that imitates an emerging adult and probably some other smallish creatures that inhabit a Western river biomass…

The “OLD GUY’s” favorite Midging set up – for rivers, when the flows ain’t blowin’..T & T Pardigm, 9′, 5wt., Tibor Spring Creek CL…

SAGEBRUSH MIDGE …

Michael, with a typical Brown from the East Walker River, that was feeding on Midge larva and pupa…

Materials for SAGEBRUSH MIDGE…

HOOK: Alec Jackson Chironomid Hook – #17

THREAD: Under Abdomen – Tiemco 16/0, White – Tiemco 16/0, Black , thorax forward

TAIL/SHUCK: Krystal Flash, Hot Orange

ABDOMEN: Micro Olive Floss – Cascade Crest

RIB: Lagartun X-fine copper wire

WINGS: DNA Holo Fusion, Sage – use one strand, loop , tie  on sides and angle upwards…use a flashy strand

THORAX: Ice Dub UV Light Olive

Always use white thread under floss. It adds to the translucency of the floss and make a pattern using this material more effective. Micro Floss comes in a variety of colors

P GF MIDGE – Duran/Variant …

Materials for P GF MIDGE…

HOOK: TMC 101. #18 – #20

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Black

ABDOMEN: Purple Glimmer Thread – Cascade Crest

TRIGGER SPOT: 1 Short strand Micro Pearl Flashabou (over Black Thread)…coat with SHAN for durability

Jude Duran’s Midge patterns are mostly very simple ties that put emphasis on segmentation. He was among the first to add flash for trigger spots. I use a lot of them… and purple is a color that works when other folks haven’t arrived (they are still sleeping) or are just planning to depart (they are hungry for dinner) – in places like this:

Above THAT Bridge on a river in Montana…

Some other Jude Duran Flash Thread Midges tied in different colors using Gudebrod rod wrapping thread…and they really work !

CCD MIDGE …

Materials for CCD MIDGE…

HOOK: TMC 2499 SP BL, #16 – #18

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, White – Under Abdomen – Tiemco 16/0, Black – Thorax forward

RIB: Lagartun x-fine copper wire

ABDOMEN: A few strands of DNA Holo Fusion, Chartreuse – coat the finished abdomen with SHAN for durability

WING: CDC White

THORAX: STS Trilobal Dubbing, Black = clipped short

BEAD: Copper Tungsten, sized to hook

These little Midge Pupa emerger types work wonders on the East Walker River. I tie a lot of them using Krystal Flash Abdomens…I thought I might give some DNA products a workout…

P ‘n P MIDGE …

Materials for P ‘n P Midge…

HOOK:  Daiichi 1130, #16 – #20

THREAD: Under Abdomen _ Ultra 70 denier, Fl. Shell Pink – Tiemco 16/0, DK. Brown Thorax forward

TAIL/SHUCK: Midge Raibow Flash – Cascade Crest – or Midge Flash, Pearl

OVER ABDOMEN: 1/8″ Clear, Stretch Flex – cut to a point to tie in to reduce bulk…this product does not degrade as quickly as Scud Back

RIB: Ultra Wire, Red, x-sm

THORAX: Ice Dub Peacock

BEAD: Black Tungsten, sized to hook

…and yes, I have found pink to be an excellent color for Midges, small may Fly patterns, dries, Scuds etc…just remember, when using a latex type body covering, the material will start aging with exposure to sunlight. Don’t expect these kind of patterns to be in good shape, after a couple of seasons of languishing in ‘yer fly box…

ICE VOODOO MIDGE – Smethurst/Variant …

Materials for ICE VOODOO MIDGE…

HOOK: Daiichi 1140, #18 -#22, Daiichi 1250, #18

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, White – Under Abdomen – Tiemco 16/0, Dk. Brown, Thorax forward

ABDOMEN: 1 strand Black Ice Thread, 2 strands Rusty Brown Ice Thread..no Ice Thread ? – Use Super Hair

THORAX: Fluff from the base of a furnace hen neck feather – use saliva to dub on thread – NO WAX !!!

WINGS: 2 short lengths of Medium Brown Krystal Flash (1 strand looped at sides and pulled slightly upward)

This is a variation on Frank Smethurst’s pattern. I have also seen this pattern tied on small, down eye, straight hooks. Smethurst and Tracy Petersen are two of the few tiers who I have come across that have found an excellent use for that fluffy stuff at the base of a hen neck feather, which usually gets tossed out with the trash …video HERE.

Another EWR Brown that Michael took on a Midge pattern…

SHADOWS GRIZ MIDGE …

Materials SHADOW GRIZ MIDGE…

HOOK: Daiichi 1130, #18 – #20,,,TMC 2488, #16 – #18

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, White

TAIL/SHUCK: Krystal Flash, UV Pearl

ABDOMEN: A sparse group of strands, DNA Holo Fusion, Purple

RIB: Ultra Wire, Silver, x-small

THORAX: AZ Diamond Hair, Rainbow, #.22

WING: 2 Short Strands, Grizzly Flash, Black/White

HOT SPOT: Datum Glo-Brite Floss, #.3, Red

BEAD: Silver Brass stuffed with .010 lead or Silver tungsten, sized to hook

Michael and I have had a lot of success with these oddball types of Midge patterns…this is something in purple, to use when shadows are on the water in the early AM or late PM…it just kinda’ migrated out of my thinking after tremendous success with this pattern…

Approaching SHADOW time on the East Walker River….

UV2 BIOT RH MIDGE …

Materials UV2 BIOT RH MIDGE…

HOOK: Gamakatsu  C12-B, #18 -#20

THREAD: Under Abdomen – Tiemco 16/0, White – Thorax forward –  Tiemco, 16/0, Black

WEIGHT: .010 lead wraps, jammed into bead

ABDOMEN: UV 2 Turkey Biot, White

RIB: Holographic Mylar Motion, Red, 1/64″

THORAX: Iridescent Peacock Eye, Black

BEAD: Black brass or tungsten, sized to hook

Segmentation, segmentation and segmentation…properties that have work well on Midge imitations…turkey biots come in a wide range of colors for small imitations...I will repeat this: Use white thread or pearl or silver mylar under UV 2 products to bring out the best in their reflective qualities…

My Grandson Miles, preparing to do some pattern research…

NEXT: Me and Ally (and HERO) to San Francisco to watch Michael get his diploma…and then, for FRANKENFLY, an SBS on the most successful crippled Caddis pattern I have ever used…

The adventure never ends…

PT/TB