Overview
This Charlie Craven pattern from Charlie's Fly Box demonstrates the effectiveness of simple, sparse midge patterns that don't try to overcomplicate the imitation. The Massacre Midge uses minimal materials to create a pattern that suggests the overall form of an emerging midge without excessive bulk that might alarm educated fish. The thread body creates a slim abdomen that mimics the natural's segmented appearance, while the silver wire ribbing adds subtle segmentation and flash. The SLF dubbing thorax provides a slightly buggy texture that breaks up the fly's silhouette, and the small foam post keeps the fly fishing properly in the film while providing a visible strike indicator.
Related patterns
Behavior & presentation
- Natural Behavior
- Midge emergers hang suspended in the surface film as they extract wings and legs from pupal cases, their struggle creating vulnerable feeding windows. The density of emerging midges overwhelms trout selectivity, allowing focused feeding on specific film presentations.
- Where Trout Eat It
- Fish sip emergers suspended in the surface film, focusing on eddies, tail-outs, and slow pools where midge density peaks. Calm water allows confident inspection of tiny suspended insects.
- How to Fish It
- Dead drift in the surface film keeps the foam post visible while the thorax hangs at proper depth. Apply floatant only to the post for correct film penetration.
- Best Water
- Prioritize tail-outs with gentle currents for suspended feeding, eddies that trap emerging midges, and slicks where film presentations are most visible.
- Strike Type
- Barely perceptible sips or subtle film disturbances require focused attention and delicate hook sets.
Fishing strategy
- Rigging Suggestions
- Fish on a 9-12 foot leader tapering to 6X-7X tippet for delicate presentations. Can be fished solo or as a dropper behind a more visible dry fly pattern.
- Seasonal Timing
- Effective year-round as midges are present in most waters throughout the year. Particularly productive during late, and early when midge activity peaks and trout focus heavily on these small insects.
- Pro Tips
- The tan foam post provides adequate visibility for the angler while the low-riding design keeps the fly in the surface film where it should be. Apply floatant sparingly to the post only, keeping the thorax and body in the film.
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 emergers struggle in the surface film as they work to extract their delicate legs and wings from the confining pupal case. The sheer density of emerging midges and their inability to escape quickly makes them an easy, abundant food source during transitional periods.
- Order
- Diptera
- Family
- Chironomidae
- Common name
- Midge
- Organism
- insect
- Life stage
- emerger
Pattern details
- Moving Water
- Stillwater
- Rocky Mountain
- dead-drift
- midge-hatch
- beginner-friendly
- low-clear-water
- flats
