Midge Patterns

[Jeremy Hunt]

Zack, what patterns do you use with copper beads. Pictures would be nice, but anything would be helpful to us fly tyers.

[flyfishmaster]

Jeremy,

This a great posting. I have to add another bead to the mix..... Crystal!

I fish most of the times in the parks and the Current River. But I learned a lot by fishing out in the western states that by adding a Crystal bead to most any small fly or midge pattern, you increase your bite ratio. So I have used this technique back here in the Midwest with lots of success.

Over the last 7 years of tying midges, I have added Crystal beads to 75% of my flies. The size range is from 16 to 24. I add to them to Pheasant Tails, Hare's Ear, WD40s, RS2, Buckskins, Zebra, Scuds, and the list goes on and on.

As for weighted bead, I used the copper and black on some Zebra patterns.

Later,

FFM

[fishinwrench]

Yep, the Primrose (yellow) is the only fly of any type that I use copper beads on, it just doesn't look right to me on anything else. Interesting and I never really gave it much thought until now.

I carry thread midges in the following colors... (r&b= rib & bead)

yellow/copper r&b,

lt.olive/silver r&b,

turd brown/silver r&b,

pumpkin/black r&b (the pumpkin is more like a tobacco/rust color).

I'm going to do up a few Cream or dirty white w/copper r&b, though just to try.

Remember the old miracle midge ? (white floss over black thread / copper rib/ black thread head)

That one was a killer for a long time back in the day before we tied anything on scud hooks, and I don't remember why I quit fishing it.

[DaddyO]

Jeremy,

Here are a couple of links to fly tying videos that I like watching. I tie these same patterns but I use the copper beads to tie them. Again, they work well on the Lower Illinois. #16 is about as small as I tie for the Lower Illinois, but the water isn't as clear here as it is at Taney.

http://www.theanglersnet.com/Fly-Tying-Videos/play_video.asp?section=6&VID=176

http://www.theanglersnet.com/Fly-Tying-Videos/play_video.asp?section=6&VID=86

http://www.theanglersnet.com/Fly-Tying-Videos/play_video.asp?section=6&VID=202

http://www.castersflyshop.com/Video%20Footage/heterogenius.wmv

[jdmidwest]

Having used beads for flies longer than most on here have been tying, gold, and copper are most productive in my fly boxes. I started tying beads with gold bead chain beads, split and pinched on a hook, back in the early 90's. Then, gold and copper solid beads became available and I started using them. I never use silver and seldom use black. There have been advances in the colors of beads, most of my old brass and copper beads turned black and I used them for bodies. The new stuff holds color very well.

[Danoinark]

Jeremy, et al...here is one I got from Gary Murphy from Cotter. He called it the copperhead. Gary has passed on now but this fly has been very productive for me on the tail waters especially.

It is tied with Flymaster choc brown thread, copper wire rib, and a copper bead.

[Jeremy Hunt]

Having used beads for flies longer than most on here have been tying, gold, and copper are most productive in my fly boxes. I started tying beads with gold bead chain beads, split and pinched on a hook, back in the early 90's. Then, gold and copper solid beads became available and I started using them. I never use silver and seldom use black. There have been advances in the colors of beads, most of my old brass and copper beads turned black and I used them for bodies. The new stuff holds color very well.

So do you find one works better than the other depending on the year? I still think gold will beat copper 100% of the time hands down.

[Jeremy Hunt]

Again, I appreciate everybody giving their thoughts about midge patterns, but let’s get off the zebra midges. I would still like to see patterns that are tied with copper beads. Keep them coming….

[Jeremy Hunt]

Jeremy,

Here are a couple of links to fly tying videos that I like watching. I tie these same patterns but I use the copper beads to tie them. Again, they work well on the Lower Illinois. #16 is about as small as I tie for the Lower Illinois, but the water isn't as clear here as it is at Taney.

http://www.theanglersnet.com/Fly-Tying-Videos/play_video.asp?section=6&VID=176

http://www.theanglersnet.com/Fly-Tying-Videos/play_video.asp?section=6&VID=86

http://www.theanglersnet.com/Fly-Tying-Videos/play_video.asp?section=6&VID=202

http://www.castersflyshop.com/Video%20Footage/heterogenius.wmv

Thanks DaddyO!!!

[Jeremy Hunt]

Hey Zack, lets see those patterns