Midge / EmergersEric's Midge
Eric's Midge is a well-known and well-respected midge pattern. Its simplicity and effectiveness make it a favorite among many fly fishers. It is designed to imitate the pupal stage of a midge's life cycle.
Spring, Summer, Fall
Intermediate
Trout
Apr 2025
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.
Where to Buy This Fly
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Materials
- Hook:
- Tiemco 2487, size #16–#20, 2X short curved shank for midges
- Thread:
- Black Veevus 14/0
- Body:
- Superfine dubbing in olive
- Ribbing:
- Fine gold wire
- Shell:
- Solarez Bone Dry UV resin
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.
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 Type
- insect
- Life Stage
- general
