Chapter 58 Day 42 - Trout Season

The Madness And Mystery Of The Midge

It's safe to say that a fly angler could spend a lifetime trying to figure out everything there is to know about the midge and it would be the kind of thing that would lead some of us to drinking... more. 

After all, there are several thousand species in the midge world.  Then there are colors to consider, along with size, and different life stages of this insect. 

In short, a midge is a two wing fly, belonging to the classification of Diptera.  They are a quite small fly, but often thick in numbers.  Chironomids are most likely the predominate presence of midges and they thrive in cold water environments where trout also thrive. 

As far as colors to use, my experience, although limited, has been that black, olive, creme, and cinnamon will work at times on Blue River.  But, the guessing game is which color to choose.  Black is a difficult color to beat at most times I would suggest.  I've only seen a trout's stomach pumped one time in my fly fishing life.  As the gentleman who did the pumping emptied the deposits in the palm of his hand there was nothing but minute black midges.  After seeing these creatures it was easy for me to go to the fly box and match exactly what the fish were keying on - a size 22 - 26 black thread midge. 

I think that when we are tying our midge patterns we quite often tie them thicker than they should be.  Most things in nature, as far as trout food, are usually smaller than we envision. 

Size - oh how important is size?  Extremely important, but again, it is usually a mystery to us while we are standing in the river.  My approach these days, when strictly fishing midges, is to give the trout choices.  Choices by way of showing the pretty fish three different sizes and stages of the midge.  But again, the color is a guessing game. 

And, then there are the stages that range from larva to pupa to emerging (or what I call shucking) stage, to the adult.  Of these stages, I'm convinced that the shucking stage is the most important.  This is where the midge is desperately trying to escape the shuck, to fly away, and is the most attractive and opportune offering for the trout. 

Usually on Blue, when I get to the river early it's all streamers.  Come mid-morning if the streamers are faltering, a switch to nymphs will be made.  And in the afternoon, it's time to go to midges.  However, if at anytime, there is evidence the trout are keying on midges, it's time to rig up a three midge offering.   

Chapter 58 Day 2 - Trout Season

RUNNING AGAINST FROM THE WIND 

Like yesterday, my time today would be limited and knowing well ahead that a front was on it's way, I found myself in an uncomfortable rush this morning.

Today is day 2 of trout season and my chapter 58.  Yesterday the fishing was okay and my expectation today was the fishing might be better. 

As I said, the front was on it's way from the west traveling east and promised quite strong winds predicted as high as sixty miles per hour. 

On the river Blue today I went downstream to Glory Hole and took position on an outcrop of granite.  First rattle out of the box, there was a strike and hookset with the first offering.  Of course I was thinking trout, however, it was a small spotted bass.  Casting a bugger down and across I would quickly catch two trout.  Looking downstream I could see swirls, so of course that direction I went. 

Retiring the bugger I decided to fish tandem.  On goes a Copper John and to his sweet ass I tied a size 18 Red Midge Larvae.  I would've bet my bottom dollar that the Red Midge was going to get most of the action, but I was so wrong. 

The Copper John took all the trout while presenting this tandem rig.  Fishing a tandem rig is a much slower kind of fishing compared to stripping a bugger, but, it's very effective at times. 

With the exception of one trout all the trout today were in the eight inch range. 

Fishing tandem under an indicator I seem to miss more fish than I catch.  One problem I had today is I took a new rig and didn't take the time to stretch the fly line which causes too much slack and slows the hookset motion. 

After five fish coming to hand courtesy of the Copper John, and none courtesy of the Red Midge, I decided to change the midge out to a Crackleback.  The Crackleback fared no better than the midge. 

The early morning was nice today and the front wasn't scheduled to arrive until after lunch.  Around 9:30 however, it was easy to sense a big change in the air and for me the fishing, or I should say catching, shut down. 

I head to the bunkhouse thankful for the time I had this morning.  

Pssst... The Fish Are Biting!

I pulled a threesome today.  I know... it seems somewhat far-fetched that a close-to-sixty year old guy, with stiffening joints and loss of vigor could pull off such a stunt, but... ha-ha-ha, I did!

On the bend of the hare's ear a thirty inch string of Frog's Hair was tied on.  About halfway down the string, an in-line black thread midge was tied on.  Bringing up the rear was the red midge larvae in size 16, which was not the desired size.  The size 18's were absent from the boxes today and their whereabouts still remain a mystery, so the size 16 had to do.  The threesome was born - a threesome of tantalizing and teasing offerings to the trout.

Thursday evening, while sitting in the tying room, I kept thinking about this being the time of season to go to midge patterns.  Then on Friday, a report was received from an angler regarding his journey to the catch and release and good success with midges.  Midges were an easy choice today.  As both ambient and water temperatures fall, it's time to think lower, slower, and smaller. 

Each time I step out of the schooner at the parking area of the south wilderness, I listen to the voice of the river.  Normally, lady Blue's voice is loud, almost like a roar, but here of late her voice has faded and diminished - ever telling of low water flow. 

Standing in the drink, the in-line midge claimed the first bow of the day.  Shortly thereafter, the in-line midge would take the second bow.  Then, the red midge larvae would bring a trout to hand.  The hare's ear was feeling somewhat jaded at this point, but it wasn't long until the two midge patterns were captured by the clutches of an overhanging tree limb and were lost. 

Since the hare's ear wasn't gaining any favor from the trout, the bugger went on with another black thread midge trailing.  Four more trout were brought to hand with the bugger taking two and thread midge taking two.

Further upstream, the black thread midge was given a rest and a red flash midge with peacock hurl gills went into action and this pattern was the prize of the day. 

There is a fly-fisher on the river Blue these days that really excites me.  H.L. excites me because of his passion for this art we practice.  Even though we are years apart, it's amazing how much we think alike and just this week we were both thinking about midges.  Friday in the catch & release, H.L. was doing quite well with midge patterns before taking a swim, which sent him packing.  Now, I'm not going to let H.L.'s cat out of the bag, but he has some exciting projects planned.  He seems to be quite hep with media and has a couple of projects planned in that arena.  He also carries a wonderful stewardship of the environment and plans stream clean-up programs.  And, he also has some merchandising plans in store.  All of these projects H.L. has in the works will only go to further the art. 

At the Cove, I got stuck on trout number thirteen.  The action on the midges suddenly came to a halt.  So, not wanting to leave the river on an unlucky note, the trailer and indicator was ripped off leaving the bugger begging to be stripped.  And, so he was.  Four casts, two trout lost, two trout to hand.  The strip was slow, the fly was low - more evidence of the dropping water temperatures. 

Speaking of the water temperatures - they were quite cold.  After three hours in the river, I was numb from the knees down.  The numbness alone was enough for me to call it a day, but in addition my propensity for pilsner persuaded me that a cold beer would taste mighty fine.  I gave thanks, left the river, and headed to Scotty's for a couple of long-necks.

It was a good day.

The trout this season are fat and healthy.

Trout on in-line midge.

The colder the weather, the greener the lichen.