Midge Help

[PorkChop]

Midge Help!
I posted this question on the beginner blog but haven't had much traffic so I wanted to post it here to see/ get others who read some additional info.....

I wanted to try and start fishing Midges. I have read they can be very effective in fall seasons, as well as all year round.

Does everyone have best luck with a certain color? Is there a better color for different times during the year? What about sizes?

I should also add I am from Western PA.

Thank you for any help!

 

[David]

Midges come in all colors and from size 18 down (you can find some bigger ones, esp in Stillwater)... I fish them down to 28s. 22s and 24s are my most commonly fished size. I typically will fish smaller more than I do larger. This is preference, though, as I know many fisherman rarely fish a midge smaller than 20 and have great success.

Specifically for dries, black is the color I use most often by far, followed by white / cream, then green and brown.
For subsurface, red is also a common color.

Midges will be found in all waters, but fish will actively feed on the surface all winter long in tailwaters and spring creeks in slower sections.

 

[nfrechet]

heres some midges that i tied that are on hans weillenmanns site

http://www.danica.com/flytier/nfrechette/nfrechette.htm

any one of them should work for you

heres more

http://www.danica.com/flytier/jduran/jduran.htm

http://www.danica.com/flytier/jbarela/jbarela.htm

http://www.danica.com/flytier/ccraven/ccraven.htm

http://www.danica.com/flytier/rtakahashi/rtakahashi.htm

 

[lv2nymph]

Wow Norm that should keep him busy at the vise. Hey, nice looking flies you have there. On Hans's site too, impressive...

 

[afishinado]

David wrote:
Midges come in all colors and from size 18 down (you can find some bigger ones, esp in Stillwater)... I fish them down to 28s. 22s and 24s are my most commonly fished size. I typically will fish smaller more than I do larger. This is preference, though, as I know many fisherman rarely fish a midge smaller than 20 and have great success.

Specifically for dries, black is the color I use most often by far, followed by white / cream, then green and brown.
For subsurface, red is also a common color.

Midges will be found in all waters, but fish will actively feed on the surface all winter long in tailwaters and spring creeks in slower sections.

+1...exactly! Only can add, don't line the fish or splash down your line or leader, and get a good drift. Give them a try.

 

[Foxgap239]

There is a very good book out there titled "Midge Magic". I highly recommend it. It backs up a lot of what has been written here but more than anything, has a ton of patterns and great tying instructions.

 

[afishinado]

Pork Chop,

Don't get all tied up with midge patterns. With flies size 20 to 30, patterns usually don' t matter much. Most of my midges are little more than thread on a hook with a little fuzz.

It may matter to match the size and general color, but presentation and not spooking the fish in the first place is most times the key to catching trout on midges.

 

[wgmiller]

Bead, thread, wire. End of story. Simple pattern, yet effective. They will catch big fish.

 

[Toofish]

Thank you all for the Midge help!! I think I can tie this pattern!! But how do you fish this patters!! As a dropper?? What knot, what tippet size for a 20 Midge?? Any help for a Midge newbe!! Thanks!!
Sean

 

[dc410]

I like to tie some of my Zebra Midges with a clear plastic micro bead instead of a metallic bead. I think it might represent an air bubble as the midge is in the process of emerging. Just another option, they have produced well for me. I agree with many of the above comments the rest is just thread and wire. Although a strand of pearl or green flashabou over the back, under the wire is another real good look.

 

[Dale49]

If you really want to fish midges, I highly recommend getting the book, Midge Magic. All of my patterns are based on what's in the book including Coats and Clark sewing thread for bodies. I do sometimes add small amounts of CDC wings and will tie a few with midge glass beads and the smallest tungsten beads. I fish 90% below the surface with the midge pupas.

As for tippet, I like a challenge and will start with 7x fluorocarbon and even go down to 9x when conditions warrant.

I fish midge pupas in various sizes and colors all year round.


Dale

 

[Jake41]

You can't go wrong with a zebra midge size 20 in black with silver bead and silver wire. Tie them in brown with brass bead and gold wire. For winter tie red body silver bead and wire. I fish them deep. Good luck. I like Pat Dorsey's books on fishing TAILWATERS they have good patterns for back east here.