Overview
This Charlie Craven pattern from Charlie's Fly Box addresses one of the most critical moments in a midge's life cycle - when it becomes trapped in its pupal shuck during emergence. This vulnerable stage represents easy pickings for trout, who often key on these struggling insects. The amber darlon shuck creates the translucent appearance of the discarded pupal case trailing behind. The white shellback suggests the emerging wings while providing visibility for the angler. The grizzly hackle is wrapped horizontally and kept sparse to suggest legs and help the fly sit properly in the film. The peacock herl thorax adds the buggy, iridescent quality that makes this pattern so effective. The thread body is intentionally kept slim to maintain the delicate profile of natural midges.
Related patterns
Behavior & presentation
- Natural Behavior
- Midges hang vertically in the film during emergence, pupal shuck still attached as wings unfold. This transformation stage is highly vulnerable.
- Where Trout Eat It
- Fish sip emergers suspended in the film through eddies, along foam lines, and in slow tailwater sections where midges concentrate.
- How to Fish It
- Fish in or just below the film with drag-free drifts. Target subtle rise forms and areas where emerging midges visibly cluster.
- Best Water
- Focus on foam lines collecting emergers, eddies with slow circulation, tail-outs with calm water, and slick sections.
- Strike Type
- Watch for barely visible sips or subtle dimples as fish delicately take suspended emergers.
Fishing strategy
- Rigging Suggestions
- Fish on a 12-15 foot leader tapering to 6X-7X fluorocarbon tippet. The white shellback provides visibility but tracking this small fly can be challenging - consider positioning it near a more visible indicator fly or using it as a dropper.
- Seasonal Timing
- Effective year-round wherever midges are present. Particularly productive during early midge emergences when trout become highly selective to these tiny insects.
- Pro Tips
- The white shellback/wing provides visibility for the angler while the hackle and thread construction help the fly sit properly in the film. Apply minimal floatant to the hackle only - keep the shuck and body untreated to sink into the film naturally.
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 hang suspended in the surface film with their pupal shuck still partially attached, creating a vulnerable silhouette as they struggle to free themselves and take their first flight. Fish selectively feed on these half-transformed insects because they're completely defenseless and highly concentrated during hatch periods.
- Order
- Diptera
- Family
- Chironomidae
- Common name
- Midge
- Organism
- insect
- Life stage
- emerger
Pattern details
- Moving Water
- Stillwater
- Rocky Mountain
- dead-drift
- midge-hatch
- searching-pattern
- low-clear-water
- tailwater
- spring-creek