midges for fun.

[kentuckytroutbum]

Originally Posted by silvercreek

Here is a video of hatching midges. Notice how bright the heads are.
http://midcurrent.com/videos/the-life-cycle-of-midges/

silvercreek-

Thanks for the link, that was the video series that I was really thinking about!

Looks to me that the midge larvae were going headfirst up to the surface, and then headfirst downstream, until they hatch. It looked to me that the current was going from right to left. Is that what you saw?

Think I might be tying some reverse flies in the near future.

Bill

[silvercreek]

Yep. I'm betting trout are keying in on the brightness of the head of the midge. The point about the midges attaching to the surface and making a "U" shape was interesting. I've tied a midge that floats hook point up at the surface, but I have yet to get a chance to try it. I suspect it will have some issues staying point up in flowing water.

[5xtippett]

I have known Ole Smoke for a while now and have fished with him on the Smith and the South Holston. If he ties something it will catch a fish. He doesn't tie something for looks. He studies the bug and then ties the fly. Deny it Ole Smoke!

[kentuckytroutbum]

Originally Posted by silvercreek

Yep. I'm betting trout are keying in on the brightness of the head of the midge. The point about the midges attaching to the surface and making a "U" shape was interesting. I've tied a midge that floats hook point up at the surface, but I have yet to get a chance to try it. I suspect it will have some issues staying point up in flowing water.

You might try tying some lead or tungsten wire to the hook shank and see if it goes hook up for use as a nymph, or a small lead head jig hook. I tie saltwater flies also for bonefish, permit, etc. and you want the fly to go hook up without snagging turtle grass, sea weed, etc.

The other idea, for a surface midge is to use small foam cylinders for the body.

Bill

[olesmoke]

Ok here is what I found with the float tests today........the CDC becomes the axis and the hook bend acts like a cantilever to lift the tail of the fly.Nice look for an ole hairball.

[silvercreek]

Interesting, but I wonder what will happen if a leader is attached. It's a neat looking pattern. I like the pics too. I tried taking some photos from the underside of a fly floating, but did not get the good results you did.

[olesmoke]

set a mirror under a petri dish and photograph the image in the mirror

[kentuckytroutbum]

olesmoke-

Great photo, really shows how the midge will float in the surface film.

Thanks for sharing that with us, I'll be tying some reverse flies soon.

Bill

[flyman]

Interesting information and photos. Midges in the surface film are prime targets, much more so than the larva or adult stage IMO.

[silvercreek]

Here is my attempt at duplicating an emerging midge as seen in the video.
The fly:

As the trout sees it.