Stillborn Midge

Materials

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Hook Daiichi 1130 #18
Thread Veevus 12/0 Black
Body Flashabou Black
Thorax Peacock Herl
Ribbing X-small Silver Wire
Wing Hen Hackle tips white
Wingcase 0.5mm Clear Speckled Foamor White Packaging low density Foam
Hackle Grizzly Hackle
Stillborn Midge
Stillborn Midge

Stillborn Midge

Midges hatch year-round and even when other major hatches are in progress, the midges continue to be a food source for the trout. The winter months are often considered to be prime midge months, only due to the lack of any other insect hatches taking place. During this period the trout focus on emerging midge pupae and they can be quite selective. The trout tend to ignore a single midge but will look for midge clusters to inhale. If you encounter a trout coming to the surface for a subtle sip, leaving a faint rise-form, the trout is most likely finding single midges. However, if midge clusters appear, the trout get more active and rapidly feed on the cluster as it drifts down the stream.

Stuck in a Shuck

The stillborn midge is meant to represent a single midge that is having difficulty emerging from it’s shuck. Like the small midge cluster, this is an easy meal and the trout will be attracted to it. Casts should be short and pinpointed to rising trout. This may mean actually kneeling within the stream as to get as physically close to the feeding trout as possible. Utilizing short upstream casts will allow you to diminish drag, working the outside of the feeding lane before casting into the center of the lane. If you encounter midge clusters, try skittering the fly across the current in front of the rising fish. This will grab their attention and proceed to fly in the excitement. Winter months are usually cold and the trout are lethargic, so the best time to midge is Noon to 2 pm.

 

 

 

Variations

Stillborn Midge, Pearl
Stillborn Midge, Pearl

Stillborn Midge, Pearl

Hook Daiichi 1130 #18
Thread Veevus 12/0 Black
Body Flashabou Pearl
Thorax Peacock Herl
Ribbing X-small Silver Wire
Wing Hen Hackle tips white
Wingcase 0.5mm Clear Speckled Foamor White Packaging low density Foam
Hackle Grizzly Hackle