Overview
Tied sparse on a Tiemco 2487 curved hook, Eric's Midge builds a slim olive Superfine dubbing body ribbed with fine gold wire, then caps it with a glossy shell of Solarez Bone Dry UV resin that adds a segmented, translucent sheen much like the exoskeleton of a natural midge pupa. Black Veevus 14/0 thread keeps the tie-in points clean and the overall profile thin. With no wing or added bulk, it rides low and true, making it a dependable point fly under an indicator or dropped off a small dry during selective midge hatches on both stillwater and moving water.
Related patterns
Behavior & presentation
- Natural Behavior
- Midge pupae hang vertically in the surface film with gas bubbles trapped under their casings, struggling to break through the surface tension during calm-water emergence periods.
- Where Trout Eat It
- Fish sip pupae hanging vertically in surface film during tailwater midge emergences in the San Juan River. The UV resin shell creates realistic sheen imitating gas-trapped pupal casing as insect struggles to break through meniscus during calm-water hatches.
- How to Fish It
- Dead-drift just under surface or in film with greased leader to within 6 inches of fly. Use light tippet (7X-8X) for delicate presentation. Fish as dropper below visible dry or on its own during concentrated midge hatches in morning and evening periods.
- Best Water
- Work tailwater tail-outs, seams, and foam lines where midge pupae concentrate during calm-water emergence. Target spring creek flats and slow glides where fish develop selective feeding rhythms.
- Strike Type
- Trout sip the emerger with delicate rises barely breaking the surface; watch for tiny rings or subtle dimples and set gently.
Fishing strategy
- Rigging Suggestions
- Rig this pattern on a light tippet and use a strike indicator for best results.
- Seasonal Timing
- Most effective March through November with peak activity during cooler months. Fish morning and evening when hatches are most concentrated.
- Pro Tips
- This pattern is designed to sink and imitate a midge pupa. The resin coating gives the fly a little shine, making it more visible underwater.
Where to fish it
Rivers anglers pair with this fly, with local shops that stock it.
River details and fly shops from River & Run, our sister site.
Entomology
Midge pupae hang vertically in the surface film with gas bubbles trapped under their pupal shucks, struggling to break through the meniscus during calm-water emergence periods. Tailwater trout develop extraordinary selectivity to these size-specific presentations because midges emerge in such overwhelming numbers that fish can afford to feed exclusively on a single life stage, rejecting anything that doesn't match the precise silhouette and behavior of hanging pupae.
- Order
- Diptera
- Family
- Chironomidae
- Common name
- Midge
- Organism
- insect
- Life stage
- general
Pattern details
- Stillwater
- Moving Water
- Rocky Mountain
- Southwest
- dead-drift
- midge-hatch
- low-clear-water
