Zebra Midge

[Phil Lilley]

Zebra Midge

Jeremy Hunt

Recipe:

Hook: 2457 TMC, 2499sp TMC, 2488H TMC

Thread: UTC 70 color to match body.

Body: Thread

Rib: UTC Wire (copper, silver, gold) in the brassie size.

Head: Tungsten 3/32 for 14, 5/64 for 16

Depending on the hook size is really going to determine the size of the bead you will want to use. The two sizes that I tie on more than any other sizes are 14 and 16. So I really don’t waste my time with size 14 unless I am fishing high water. Ok start the thread just behind the bead and do enough turns just to lock the thread into place and then cut your tag end off. Befor we go on I would like to share a few things about beads and why they are so important for matching beads with the right hook size.

It is all about proportioning the fly correctly. If the fly has a thread body along the whole shank it’s important not to build too many thread wraps behind the bead. This will do two things wrong to your pattern. One it will make for lose wraps behind the bead. And two it will make your fly look unproportion because you will not get a smooth tapered look that you want behind the bead. Another thing to mention is winding too many thread wraps behind the bead will start to make the fly look ugly. Try to build a cone shape behind the bead with thread wraps, but don’t build it until you are done with your steps first.

Now cut you a piece of wire and tie it in behind the bead. Advance you’re thread back to the bend. Make sure your wraps are even and you a have a nice smooth thread body as you wind to the bend. If you hold the wire back at a angle when you wrap back on the wire it will slide the thread to the next wrap making them look side by side. Look at picture two and you can see the angle I hold my wire.

Once you get to the bend you are ready to advance the thread back up just behind the bead.

Grab the wire and wrap forward making segmentations as you wind the wire up. Try to make the spaces the same size. Count them to yourself. On this fly I have seven wraps of wire. The main key to this fly is making sure the fish can see those segments.

Tie down the wire and move it real fast back and forth. It will break from it getting hot. If you cut it with scissors you will more than likely have a little tag showing. By doing it this way you want. And you will never mess your scissors up from cutting wire. Whips finish the fly.

Glue your thread wraps behind the bead and you got yourself a zebra midge.

Keynotes:

You will see that this pattern calls for UTC 70. This is a newer thread that Wapsi came out with. This is more of a floss thread that will lay flatter on the shank. This will make a smoother base for any pattern that calls for a thread body fly. Also you can tie in dubbing or some sort of peacock herl for the collar of the fly.

If you are tying this fly with black thread try using a nickel bead with silver wire. It is one of the best midges for our rivers around here. Good luck!

Zebra Midge

Jeremy Hunt