Midge / EmergersBreakout Emerger
Loren Williams' Breakout Emerger uses olive-dyed fox squirrel for the abdomen, thorax, and head, with a beaver wing and a silvery tan Z-Lon wingcase over grey partridge barbs standing in for tail, shuck, and legs. Left untreated so it hangs just under the film, it's built as a generic emerger to cover whatever insect is transitioning at the time.
Spring, Summer, Fall
Advanced
Trout
Feb 2026
Overview
Tan Benecchi thread carries three sections of olive-dyed fox squirrel dubbing - abdomen, thorax, and head - broken up by a beaver wing and a wingcase of silvery tan Z-Lon, while grey partridge barbs double as both the tail/shuck and the legs. The fly is tied and fished untreated, and greasing the last few inches of tippet keeps it riding just below the surface rather than on top of it. That low-riding posture matches the moment when an emerging insect is still partly trapped in its nymphal or pupal shuck while pushing through the surface tension. Because the design and colors can be varied, it works across midge and mixed hatches in both moving water and stillwater whenever fish are keying on the emerging stage rather than the fully hatched adult.
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Materials
- Hook:
- Mustad C49S #12
- Thread:
- Benecchi 12/0, tan
- Tail/shuck:
- Grey partridge barbs
- Abdomen:
- Fox squirrel, dyed olive
- Wing:
- Beaver
- Wingcase:
- Z-lon, silvery tan
- Thorax:
- Fox squirrel, dyed olive
- Legs:
- Grey partridge barbs
- Head:
- Fox squirrel, dyed olive
Behavior & Presentation
Natural Behavior: Multiple aquatic insect species hang partially in the surface film during transformation as adult forms extract from nymphal or pupal cases. This critical emergence phase represents peak vulnerability across mayflies, caddis, and midges.
Where Trout Eat It: Fish suspend just beneath the surface in seams and tail-outs, intercepting emergers trapped in the film.
How to Fish It: Fish in or just below the surface film with drag-free presentation, allowing the pattern to hang like trapped naturals.
Best Water: Target seams concentrating film-dwelling emergers, tail-outs collecting hatching insects, and slicks where emergers accumulate.
Strike Type: Watch for subtle film sips or barely visible takes as fish delicately intercept suspended emergers.
Fishing Strategy
Rigging Suggestions: Use a 12-15 foot leader with 6X-7X tippet. Fish alone or as a dropper beneath a small dry fly.
Seasonal Timing: Most effective during peak feeding periods at dawn and dusk. Water temperatures between 45-65°F typically produce best results.
Pro Tips: Watch for subtle rises with minimal splash indicating fish are taking emergers rather than adults. The trapped shuck silhouette is often more effective than fully emerged imitations.
Entomology
Various emerging aquatic insects break through the surface tension at the moment of transformation, hanging partially in the film while their adult forms extract from nymphal or pupal cases. This critical transition phase represents peak vulnerability across multiple species, making emerger patterns universally effective when any insect is transitioning between life stages.
- Organism Type
- insect
- Life Stage
- general
