Best emerging midge patterns

[stevekale]

Can people point me to SBSs of their favourite hatching midge still water patterns?

Out fishing yesterday and the trout were feasting on what appeared to be Grey Boy midges (some of the pupae I spooned were rusty brown rather than green - same fly?). (Midge patterns, especially red buzzers, were the order of the day.) Straightened, the pupae were up to 15mm long - a lot longer than that indicated in Goddard's Waterside Guide.

There were also lots of light brown (fawn) coloured flies coming off the water, flying like a child's propeller stick toy, thorax hanging vertically and trout were taking flies off the surface. I assume these were adult midges although that's not how I would expect a midge to fly when looking at a photo of a static adult (and frankly until I bought Goddard's book I thought all adult midges were black). They were quite large. (I need to buy a kid's butterfly net!) I couldn't tempt the trout with a #16 Black and Peacock.

Any patterns/entomology tips appreciated.

[dwiltshire]

Originally Posted by stevekale

Can people point me to SBSs of their favourite hatching midge still water patterns?

Out fishing yesterday and the trout were feasting on what appeared to be Grey Boy midges (some of the pupae I spooned were rusty brown rather than green - same fly?). (Midge patterns, especially red buzzers, were the order of the day.) Straightened, the pupae were up to 15mm long - a lot longer than that indicated in Goddard's Waterside Guide.

There were also lots of light brown (fawn) coloured flies coming off the water, flying like a child's propeller stick toy, thorax hanging vertically and trout were taking flies off the surface. I assume these were adult midges although that's not how I would expect a midge to fly when looking at a photo of a static adult (and frankly until I bought Goddard's book I thought all adult midges were black). They were quite large. (I need to buy a kid's butterfly net!) I couldn't tempt the trout with a #16 Black and Peacock.

Any patterns/entomology tips appreciated.

Steve,

for really great emerger imitations for midges, try those tied by Roy Christie. I see he's selling them in the Classifieds. You can also buy them via Phil Holding's site - Spiders Plus. Have alook here:

http://www.spidersplus.co.uk/shop/re...bmit=Search%21

If you are tying your own, I am sure Roy can put you in the direction if an SBS.

I like CDC loops or shuttlecocks for my midge emergers:



This is a Partridge 15BN (#14), so more than you'd need, but they are straght forward to tie in smaller sizes. Just substitute the biot body if you like. The profile, as far as I am concerned is perfect. Here's a picture I think I've shown here before, but hopefully shows you the idea:



Hope that helps some. Exciting fishing when they are taking in the surface eh...

Cheers,

[stevekale]

Thanks dwiltshire. Definitely want to tie my own. That looks great. What are the materials? (biot abdomen, hare's ear thorax and CDC wing?) I was just looking at the Bubble Midge by Scotfly. I assume the principle of the wing is the same/similar?

[Buzz]

I used to use a lightly tied red and partridge spider and let it drift.
It used to work wonders, dont know why.

[dwiltshire]

Originally Posted by stevekale

Thanks dwiltshire. Definitely want to tie my own. That looks great. What are the materials? (biot abdomen, hare's ear thorax and CDC wing?) I was just looking at the Bubble Midge by Scotfly. I assume the principle of the wing is the same/similar?

Sorry Steve:
Hook: Partridge 15BN
Thread: 14/ Sheer, tan
Body: Turkey biot, wrapped over a thin layer of cement
Thorax: Hare (dyed orange can be good for emerging-buzzer imitations)
Wing: Looped, natural CDC

Loop / bubble prett much the same thing. I like to leave the tips long over the eye of the hook. Your choice.

Originally Posted by Buzz

I used to use a lightly tied red and partridge spider and let it drift.
It used to work wonders, dont know why.

Agreed Buzz. Spiders in the surface film can be excellent. Now if you were limited to one fly for every occasion, it would be a spider... but that's a whole different topic

Hope you find what you are looking for Steve.

Cheers,

[stevekale]

Thanks guys. Buzz, I must admit that I have never fished a Spider pattern before.

[flyfishwithme]

Back home us Oz we have a lake where the chironomid (buzzers) hatch is massive and the fish become very fussy. Many UK patterns were tried, new ones devised but they all got out fished by a pattern known as 'Ricketts midge'. Originated by old Bill Ricketts (an international casting champion who lived in Melbourne), it is a very simple pattern.
Hook - Size 16 or 18
Silk - Black but this could be replaced with others
Body - grey wool from a college jumper (his jumper looked at though it was hard done by moths as he just plucked fibres out from the front of it as he was tying) dubbed on very sparsely.
Wing - a few hackle fibres from a grizzle hackle
Hackle - 1-2 turns of grizzle hackle.
He fished it right on the edge of a ripple and slightly moved the fly to make it appear as though it was an insect hatching.
Try it, adjust it but keep the name please. If anyone tries it, can they PB me with an update?

[stevekale]

Ok here's one of my first attempts. Original I tied the biot notch up for the ridge affect but decided I preferred the smoother body only because it is meant to be a nymph. I also tied one with the CDC stubs over the hook eye but decided this added too much bulk to the profile (but I'm just an amateur so as you note it's just personal preference).

Any helpful criticism appreciated.





Cheers

Steve

(It's tied on a #18 Partridge 15BNX. The breather is white McFlyfoam; the thorax is rusty brown hare mask.)

[North Country Angler]

Steve,

I posted this a couple of months ago. A black version is deadly around these parts.....

Olive Suspender Buzzer

Matt

[dwiltshire]

Steve,

A very nice fly that will surely catch you fish. Nice work.

Your biot looks good. I like the ridge as I think of it as defining the rib and perhaps it is suggesting the gills along a nymph's body. I am sure the fish don't care. As a buzzer pattern, I think your choice was spot on.

What's under the biot? Thread build up? Personal preference I suppose, but I like very little under the biot. Keep it as slim as possible to avoid unnecessary weight to the fly.

What thread are you using?

Anyway, as I said a great effort - and the product is a fly I would happily and confidently fish with.

Cheers,