Zebra Midge and Variations

Midges are small flies that are related to mosquitoes, but do not bite. Like mosquitoes they are aquatic in their larvae and pupae stage, but emerge in their adult stage. In many of the rivers I have fished, midges are some of the most densely populated forage food for trout. While they are small, there are tons of them in the water, allowing trout to fill up easily on this food. When I say small, I mean small. There are different species of midge, but most of them are much smaller than other aquatic bugs and larvae in the water. For instance, at the San Juan River in New Mexico, I would routinely have to fish midge pupa down to size 28 or 30 to get strikes. Even a size 30 hook is larger than the actual midges in the water. This is where the Zebra Midge and variations come into play, as they are simple enough to tie very small.

Zebra midges are tied with only 3 materials. Thread, bead, and wire. They are weighted with a silver bead, and ribbed with silver wire. Usually tied black, but other colors such as red, cream, olive or chartreuse are popular. The bead does more than just add weight, the round silver bead mimics an air bubble. When a midge is emerging, it forms a small air bubble to help assist it reaching the top of the water before becoming an adult fly. So that makes the Zebra Midge an Emerger actually, rather than a pupa. In contrast, the black beauty better represents the pupa or larva stage. Tying these in other colors actually changes these from midge imitations to imitating something else. For instance, I would fish a red black beauty all the time at the San Juan river to imitate the small red annelids found in that water system. Tying it olive would more represent a blue wing olive or caddis.

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Also dont forget to pick up one of my fly boxes. I have both magnetic backed and silicone backed, if these sell well I plan on getting more styles as well and maybe even bringing back the shirts that everyone loved years ago. Check out my amazon store front to pick up the boxes. - www.amazon.com/shops/McFlyAngler

Materials
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Zebra Midge;
Hook: Risen Barbless Emerger 2488 (size 18) - https://www.risenfly.com/collections/hooks/products/barbless-emerger-24…
Bead: Risen Brass Bead (silver, 2.4mm) - https://www.risenfly.com/collections/beads-and-weights/products/brass-b…
Thread: Veevus 14/0 (black) - https://amzn.to/4gtzSrm
Wire: UTC Ultra Wire (small/silver) - https://amzn.to/4jIZXWu

Black Beauty;
Hook: Risen Barbless Emerger 2488 (size 18) - https://www.risenfly.com/collections/hooks/products/barbless-emerger-24…
Thread: Veevus 14/0 (black) - https://amzn.to/4gtzSrm
Wire: UTC Ultra Wire (small/silver) - https://amzn.to/4jIZXWu
Dubbing: UV2 Fine and Dry (black) - https://amzn.to/4aL6njO

Foam Wing Emerger;
Hook: Risen Barbless Emerger 2488 (size 18) - https://www.risenfly.com/collections/hooks/products/barbless-emerger-24…
Thread: Veevus 14/0 (black) - https://amzn.to/4gtzSrm
Wire: UTC Ultra Wire (x-small/silver) - https://amzn.to/4gvsdJo
Wing: 2mm Craft Foam (white) - https://amzn.to/3EqAUHD
Dubbing: UV2 Fine and Dry (black) - https://amzn.to/4aL6njO

CDC Emerger;
Hook: Risen Barbless Emerger 2488 (size 18) - https://www.risenfly.com/collections/hooks/products/barbless-emerger-24…
Thread: Veevus 14/0 (black) - https://amzn.to/4gtzSrm
Wire: UTC Ultra Wire (x-small/silver) - https://amzn.to/4gvsdJo
Wing: CDC Oiler Puff (white) - https://amzn.to/3Ergez4
Dubbing: UV2 Fine and Dry (black) - https://amzn.to/4aL6njO

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Magnetic Fly Box - https://amzn.to/3DBwPQl
Silicone Fly Box - https://amzn.to/40haoIX

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00:00 - Intro
00:11 - Zebra Midge
02:50 - Black Beauty
04:20 - Foam Wing Emerger
06:24 - CDC Emerger
07:56 - Fly Discussion
09:39 - Buy my Fly Box!
10:27 - My sponsor Risen Fly
10:52 - Outro

#fishing #flytying #flyfishing #midge