The Magic Of The Midge On Blue River

Each season, I tend to take a family, or classification of aquatic life, and work that pattern all season long in an attempt to learn as much as I can about this particular category. 

This year I'm exploring the midge.  Midge is a general term for many small flies.  At Blue, we are looking at the family of chironomidae mainly in the pupae or larva stage. 

The midge or chironomid are an important food source for fish and in this case the trout.  The chironomid also serve as good indicators as to the health of a waterway.  Their presence, or lack of, respectfully speak to the health or whether possible pollutants are present.

For me there is something magical fishing midge patterns.  The selection of midge patterns we have to choose from is wide and varied and trying to tie new patterns is fascinating also. 

 

Generally, I always trail the midge pattern I'm using below a nymph, streamer and in some cases another midge pattern.  So far the best colors I've found have been black, followed by gray, and red comes in a close third.  However, it is early in the season and the few outings I've had so far may very well not be indicative of what the colors have shown thus far. 

 

So far, I've concentrated on midges size 20 with a few 18 patterns thrown in.  Now, it's time to go down in size and explore the 22, 24, and maybe even try to thread a 26. 

 

 

 

One thing I believe, particularly when it comes to my tying of the midge, is that I often tie too thick or large even though my finished products are quite scant.  Most aquatic insect life is much smaller than we imagine when at the vise. 

 



No Fly - Just Tie

I knew that Harley was going to be on the water today and that knowledge made me really ache to go a-fishing. However a phone call and the time and temperature lady announcing it was twenty-one degrees gave me much pause for thought. Her revelation of the rather cool temperatures caused me to admit that I'm too old for that kind of cold.

Besides, Miss Carol, even though most of the snow had melted on the roads, refused to ride the brown pony to work which required me to hitch up the prairie schooner and deliver her to the salt mine. In addition this pretty well locked me in at the bunk house since I'd have to fetch her around one 'clock.

Back at the bunk house I found myself pretty well bored in the absence of Miss Carol. I felt almost like a shut-in and I know very well I do not do well in such a situation. Heaven forbid I ever really get to such a point in life - I won't last long.

Tying flies has always been a big part of my life on the water and since I couldn't go to the river today I took to the vise.



I started out with midge patterns and tied a variety including some adults, tricos, spent wings, and quill midges. Midges have been good producers on Blue for me over the years and they often prove to be the go-to fly when the risers are on.



After the midge setting, I decided to tackle the soft hackles again. Soft hackles have always proven to be a challenge for me and I think it's because there are several different methods to tying the hackle. Today I decided to take one method of tying the hackle and stick to it. This decision worked much better for me today and I produced four or five new trout warriors and I'll have to say the soft hackle is quickly becoming one of my favorite soldiers.



After a round of soft hackles I decided to play and try and create something. For some reason a split parasol midge emerger came to mind. The end result was a little less than desired but it was my first attempt. I asked myself if this fly would fish but the answer to that question lies somewhere in the river. Time will certainly tell.



By now it was time to fetch Miss Carol and I rode through the park and had a look at little Rock Creek. She was flowing quite well through her snow covered banks. Seeing Rock Creek made we want to see Blue even more but it wasn't to be today. Maybe later this week.

I hope Harley slayed em today.