Modern Midges: 12 Fly Recipes

Fly fishers need patterns to imitate midge larvae, pupae, emergers, adults, and clusters.

February 09, 2022 By Rick Takahashi & Jerry Hubka

When we started fishing together on the South Platte River near Deckers, Colorado, we never thought that the tiny but abundant midge was going to become such an important part of our fly-fishing lives.

But as we gained experience on the Frying Pan, San Juan, and other Rocky Mountain tailwaters, we became immersed in all aspects of midge fishing. We dedicated more than 20 years and many hours and days to learn as much as possible about the techniques, equipment, presentation strategies, and fly patterns of the diminutive world of midges and the trout that eat them.

Our study of chironomid entomology led to years of experimentation at the vise, and together we developed more than 100 innovative patterns that represented the various stages of the midge life cycle. We soon realized that many other midge anglers were on the same quest, and our discussions with fellow midge fishers soon became one of our main avenues of discovering new patterns. Over the years, many friends have shared with us their most exciting cutting-edge larva, pupa, and adult midge imitations.

Our years of parking-lot networking—with fly boxes flung open—were enjoyable but didn’t seem the best way to share the combined knowledge of midge fishing. So, a few years ago we decided to write a book and we began contacting our like-minded friends, as well as fly tiers we met online, or have read or heard about.

Our fellow midge anglers gladly obliged, sharing samples and recipes of their favorite midge patterns. We soon amassed more than 1,000 fly patterns, along with detailed information on how to tie them, from some of the world’s best tiers in Japan, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Croatia, Slovakia, England, the U.S., and elsewhere.

This article contains just 12 of the 1,000 patterns we’ve collected. They aren’t the best, or even our favorites (it’s so hard to pick!), but they do represent the diversity and ingenuity we’ve found in the minuscule world of midge fishing.

Why So Many Midge Flies?

There are more than 100 midge species in North America alone, and it is highly likely that all streams and stillwaters contain midges. Trout are always on the lookout for this food source, especially in seasons when other insect hatches are not occurring. Some streams and stillwaters contain huge midge numbers, and trout in these environments feed on them almost exclusively.

As with most aquatic insects, midges have several life stages that both fly fishers and trout recognize: larva, pupa, and adult; plus two transitional phases, emerger and cluster. Each midge life stage is important to trout, and fly fishers need patterns to imitate all stages and every color phase found in nature.

Riwaka Brassie

Modern Midges — John Nichols, New Zealand

HOOK: #14-20 Tiemco 2457.
THREAD: Black 8/0 Uni-Thread.
BODY: Red and green Ultra Wire wrapped together.
WING: Small tuft of Z-lon.
THORAX: Gray and green rabbit fur, mixed.

Deep Buzzer

HOOK: #10-16 Tiemco 2457.
THREAD: Black 8/0.
BODY: Tying thread.
RIB: Silver holographic tinsel.
THORAX: Tying thread over wire.
WINGCASE: Gray Swiss straw.
GILLS: White Z-lon.
Note: Cover the fly body with nail polish.

Clearwater Pupa

HOOK: #8-16 Mustad C49S.
THREAD: Olive 8/0.
RIB: Fine copper, silver, or gold wire.
BODY: Stillwater Solutions Midge Braid (olive).
WINGCASE: Mylar peacock/orange.
THORAX: Tying thread.
GILLS: Stillwater Solutions Midge Gill.

Green & Red Larva

HOOK: #10-14 Mustad C53S or Tiemco 2302.
THREAD: Red 8/0 Uni-Thread.
RIB: Small silver Ultra Wire.
UNDERBODY: Bright green Flashabou.
OVERBODY: Red Midge Stretch Floss.

Rick Takahashi is an illustrator, Umpqua Feather Merchants fly designer, and regular Fly Fisherman contributor. Jerry Hubka is a commercial artist and retired art teacher. Their book Modern Midges: Tying and Fishing the World’s Most Effective Patterns (Headwater Books) was published in September 2009.