Midge Patterns

[Jeremy Hunt]

Hey jeremy how is the new baby and wife? You know how I like to midge fish, my favorite pattern that i call ole faithfull is a black zebra midge with copper wire and bead. I know other regular taney fishermen that this is the ONLY midge they tie for taney. I also tie a varation of the p&p useing different flashabou.

mike h

The baby is healthy and Summer is doing great. Thanks for asking. I know you're a midge fisherman, I figured you have a new pattern tied with copper beads. It’s just a hard color bead to really come up with fly variations. I also tie zebra midges with different color flash. Red seems to work just as well as the p&p. But I'm still wondering beside zebra midge patterns, what else is out there. See, we keep talking about zebra midges with copper beads etc, not what I’m talking about. You can use any bead on black zebra midges and they will work, but where's the other patterns. Is there anybody out there..........

[Jeremy Hunt]

So whats your best color Jeremy...chrome, gold, or black beads?...Chrome is my top pick for some reason....probably because most use gold.

Gavin,

It really depends on the pattern. I would say gold, then nickel and then black, but black is only used for rusty midges for the most part, unless I’m fishing at night. The black has to have the “mirror” look to really work well. They also have a dull finish, but the fish don’t like it as much. I like nickel the best with red variations, but you just can’t beat gold. I’ve had more luck not even ribbing the fly with wire, just thread and beads.

Keep the thoughts coming. But I told you, nobody has much to say about copper.

[Gavin]

If you really want to see good midge flies...take a look at what the english guys fish reservoirs with...The call em Buzzers..and they are a bit different from the beaded midges that everyone tosses in the tailwaters & trout parks. I'm sure they would be effective here. Cheers.

[Jeremy Hunt]

I’ve fished all those patterns, they work, but surprisingly not too well on tailwaters. I think they're too fancy is some sort of way. I still think the easier (midge patterns) the pattern, the better if you know what I mean.

[fishgypsy]

I just tied up two dozen or so buzzers, an assortment of different fishy-looking patterns which seem as though they'll produce. I'm planning on epoxying them tonight, and I'll report whatever happens with them.

[Zack Hoyt]

I prefer gold or silver/chrome on most of my midge patterns. I think copper tends to be a bit to dark under the water. IMO the head of the insects will have a slightly different color than the body.....case in point....why are alot of Brassie's tied with a gold bead head and copper body? I prefer the way a gold head or chrome head looks. I think they have just enough attractive properties to grab the fish over a duller copper head.

Also, and just my thoughts, alot of insects will turn an amber to copper color when they die or are dying. I tend to see a dull copper when the insect has been dead a while. I wonder if the fish realize this and wont key in on it since most of the nutrients have already left the food source.

As far as other midge patterns......I like using a RS2 or Mercury RS2 when I am doing a multi fly setup. Also a fan of the WD40....especially when they are sipping just subsurface.......just under a midge dry.

That make any sense at all???

[Jeremy Hunt]

Zack,

I also agree with the under water theory. And some of my favorite patterns are the ones you mentioned. But the topic is about copper beads and what patterns are out there that people think are go-to patterns tied with a copper bead. That’s what I’m interested in.

[Zack Hoyt]

Gotcha, gotcha. Forgive my dissetation.

I did do a little research and grabbed some catalogs just to see what the mainstream had.......very few patterns tied with copper. None in the midge catagory......very interesting.

[Jeremy Hunt]

It really is Zack. I really don’t know what color midges would be once they die off. In all my fishing I’ve only notice that once they die they are on top of the surface, but not much changes as far as the color like lets say scuds. We all know they turn orange. So being that the copper bead is dull makes since why it wouldn’t work in the sunlight like gold. The best luck I have with copper is on low light conditions. BUT WHERE ARE THE PATTERNS? There as to be patterns that are “hot” patterns tied with copper beads, or is there? I’m beginning to wonder if I should leave copper out of the tying equation all together. Things that make you go hmmm…….

[Zack Hoyt]

There are definately times I will use copper.....just not alot.....and even less imitating a midge.

Threadjack.....

I honestly think the ribbing(attempt to make the segmented body stand out) goes alot farther than the bead color........in alot fo midge patterns. This is a whole other thread in itself.....lol.

Threadjack.....

There is alos the marketing aspect. Tungston and now colored beads are far more popular than the normal copper. Similiar to how we have got away from lead, but years ago it was very popular. Fly tying in its earlier stages was an art of matching as close as one could with what was avaliable. Copper was easily accesible and worked. Of course, tying and the surrounding understanding is a bit more subjective than even casting and rods.