Black Gnat (midge soft hackle)

This is Jim Leisenring’s Black Gnat. It is one of his top 12 patterns.

Recipe as listed in his book “The Art of the Wetfly” 1941 with Pete Hidy.

6. Black Gnat:
Hook: 14, 15
Silk: crimson or claret
Hackle: purplish/black feather from cock starling shoulder
Body: black silk or two or three fibers from a crows secondary wing feather
Wings: dark Starling optional

I used…

Hook: sz 14 Partridge Dry fly hook Up eye
Silk: YLI Claret (I said crimson in the video sorry!)
Hackle: as Leisenring lists
Body: 2 or 3 fibers from Crow secondary wing feather
Rib: tag of tying silk

Happy Tying.