Flyfishing with midges

Midges are probably the most overlooked food source of trout fly fishing. It is understandable I suppose, they have no season, no cloud like hatches, no recognizable features. In short, they have no charisma, yet they are the blue collar trout food. Steady, reliable, and workmanlike, providing up to 22% of trout's annual diet, they play a vital role in the health of a river's or lake's trout population. And yet they are often ignored by trout fly fishers.
Part of the reason for this omission is their size; midges are tiny, not always but usually. And many fly fishers have an inherent fear of going small. Light tippets snap easily, fishing in the breeze is difficult; longs cast are frustrating, even tying the tiny thing on the tippet is difficult especially in the winter when midges are usually the only game in town. Well for the last difficulty think EZ-TY Junior, it will eliminate much frustration threading those light tippets. For the strongest tippet that is the easiest to cast in 6x or 7x try Frog Hair, it can literally mean the difference between a fish and a broken tippet, plus nothing casts better and lays a fly down nicer. This wasn't meant to be a shameless plug for products but if it keeps you fishing longer than I feel the products are worth a mention.
The midge pupa is probably the most important stage of the midge. Midges hung up in the surface film, Suspended Midge, provide easy pickings for trout. As do emerging midges, try Chirnomid Pupa. It is not uncommon to see frenzied trout feeding on something we can't see; this is the time to try these. Tailwaters often provide excellent winter time hatches of midges due to their relative constant temperatures. Midges tend to emerge in pools tailouts, eddys or other slack water areas.
The larva stage is often overlooked, and that is a shame. The BH Zebra Midge and the Disco Midge have earned their place in my vest as constant producers. While the midge larva is a slim meal at best they are prevalent, and they are mobile in this larva stage. Dead drifting a midge is often a great searching technique that produces fish time and again. Any time fishing is slow going small is often the answer, and is the first thing I try in the winter. Rig a small split shot a foot or so above the fly to get it down in the fish's cone of vision.
In lakes you must provide the retrieve or action yourself. Easily the most common mistake to make is fishing these too fast. In fact I don't know if it is possible to fish it too slow. A twitch and then a rest is all you need. Sometimes it can try the patience but the reward is big lake fish on tiny flies.
The careful observer can view the mating process, often time the males will cluster the female, creating a life raft of delicacies for the lucky trout. This process is best imitated with the Griffith Gnat or the CDC Griffith Gnat.
The adult midge pattern covers not only midges but also tiny mayflies, anytime surface action is in progress and you can't see the hatch the midges are probably the catalyst, although tiny Baetis hatches are often confused with midges. It really does not matter as the adult midge pattern will cover both quite nicely.
It takes loads of patience and a delicate hand but landing a monster trout during one of these tiny hatches is a reward that is hard to duplicate. And for winter dry fly fishing nothing is equal to the midge.
Midges are probably the most overlooked food source of trout fly fishing. It is understandable I suppose, they have no season, no cloud like hatches, no recognizable featuresIn short, they have no charisma, yet they are the blue collar trout food.Steady, reliable, and workmanlike, providing up to 22% of trout's annual diet, they play a vital role in the health of a river's or lake's trout populationAnd yet they are often ignored by trout fly fishers.
Part of the reason for this omission is their size; midges are tiny, not always but usuallyAnd many fly fishers have an inherent fear of going small.Light tippets snap easily, fishing in the breeze is difficult; longs cast are frustrating, even tying the tiny thing on the tippet is difficult especially in the winter when midges are usually the only game in townWell for the last difficulty think EZ-TY Junior, it will eliminate much frustration threading those light tippetsFor the strongest tippet that is the easiest to cast in 6x or 7x try Frog Hair, it can literally mean the difference between a fish and a broken tippet, plus nothing casts better and lays a fly down nicer.This wasn't meant to be a shameless plug for products but if it keeps you fishing longer than I feel the products are worth a mention.
The midge pupa is probably the most important stage of the midge.Midges hung up in the surface film, Suspended Midge, provide easy pickings for trout. As do emerging midges, try Chirnomid Pupa. It is not uncommon to see frenzied trout feeding on something we can't see; this is the time to try these. Tailwaters often provide excellent winter time hatches of midges due to their relative constant temperatures. Midges tend to emerge in pools or other slack water areas.
The larva stage is often overlooked, and that is a shame. The BH Zebra Midge and the Disco Midge have earned their place in my vest as constant producers. While the midge larva is a slim meal at best they are prevalent, and they are mobile in this larva stage. Dead drifting a midge is often a great searching technique that produces fish time and again.Any time fishing is slow going small is often the answer, and is the first thing I try in the winter. Rig a small split shot a foot or so above the fly to get it down in the fish's cone of vision.
In lakes you must provide the retrieve or action yourself. Easily the most common mistake to make is fishing these too fast. In fact I don't know if it is possible to fish it too slow. A twitch and then a rest is all you need. Sometimes it can try the patience but the reward is big lake fish on tiny flies.
The careful observer can view the mating process, often time the males will cluster the female, creating a life raft of delicacies for the lucky trout. This process is best imitated with the Griffith Gnat or the CDC Griffith Gnat. adult midge pattern covers not only midges but also tiny mayflies, anytime surface action is in progress and you can't see the hatch the midges are probably the catalyst, although tiny Baetis hatches are often confused with midges. It really does not matter as the adult midge pattern will cover both quite nicely.
It takes loads of patience and a delicate hand but landing a monster trout during one of these tiny hatches is a reward that is hard to duplicate. And for winter dry fly fishing nothing is equal to the midge.
About the Author
Cameron Larsen is owner of Big Y Fly Co, at www.bigyflyco.com.