Midge Patterns

[mizzouflyfisher]

I'm looking for some obscure/different midge patterns. I've got probably 350 midges tied and in my boxes right now, but I'm looking for some different combinations of materials, profiles, etc. List whatever ideas you've got along with a basic description of the fly, or better yet pictures. I will try and see if I can get my digital camera to take close enough pictures to post some of the stuff that I have created over the past couple of years. It will be interesting to see what kind of patterns are out there that work.

Mizzouflyfisher

[Phil Lilley]

I've been told 'there isn't a fly under the sun that hasn't already been invented'. I'm not 100% sold on that thought but it may be close. Especially with the development of new materials, the possibilities are endless.

Speaking of materials, I visited with a seasoned angler once- he told me back in the ??'s (50's- maybe 60's), they found what was called a doll fly in a shop near Grand Lake. They used and caught crappie on them like there was nothing else better. After the last jig fell apart, they used the filters on their cigarettes in substitute for the feathers and it worked. Never will forget that story.

[rmueller]

Have you read Midge Magic? They present several variations of color, materials, etc. They discuss dying thread to match exact coloration of local (eastern US) midge pupae...that is pretty exotic I guess.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Obscure, well I tie one by slipping Red Larvae Lace over an 18 or 20 3906B style hook and ribbing it with red Krystal Flash. It gives a different look and resembles the worm like midge lavae.

[Brian K. Shaffer]

See if you can figure this one out - the JuJuBee midge.

Charlie Craven's Ju Ju Bee Midge

If you have seen this one in the magazine.. he is using some kind of straight material.. and the only kind that I can find in the world is all crinkled up. I can't figure it out.

Brian

[mizzouflyfisher]

Brian-

I almost sent you a sample of a jujubee that I tied up with the check I sent you. But, the fly took like 20 minutes to tie, so I couldn't part with it. I will say that they work really well at Taney. They're just a pain in the butt. I wanted to see if you had any ideas on how to tie it easier. My biggest problem is tying with 3 strands of material at 1 time. I can't keep them in the order that I want them. For example, 2 black strands with 1 clear strand in between. The order probably doesn't matter, but I'm picky about that stuff. The crinkly stuff works fine, that's what I'm using. Plus, most of that stuff you can pull slightly and it will become more straight. They are very translucent in the water. The only colors that I have tried tying with are black and clear. The article talks about all sorts of weird color combinations to. Would at least be a different look.

Let me know what you think about this fly.

Mizzouflyfisher

[Brian K. Shaffer]

Kyle - check this out : Chironomids

Also - I will try the JuJuBee with the crinkly stuff and see how it works out. The article in Fly Fisherman shows the material as straight.. totally straight.. not a crink in it. So I guess he did pull on it to get the crinks out.. but I have heard mention of a straight version. Anybody got a Spirit catalog ?

Check that link above.. some neat BC midges are listed at the bottom.

happy tying - Brian