Midge / EmergersTwisted Midge
The Twisted Midge is a minimalist midge emerger pattern using Crinkled Zelon for both the body/wings and a black Zelon dubbing thorax. The twisted Zelon creates a segmented body appearance while the wing portion rises above the thorax for visibility. This simple yet effective pattern excels during technical midge fishing.
Year Round
Beginner
Trout
Dec 2025
Overview
The Twisted Midge was developed at Blue Ribbon Flies as a quick-tie midge pattern that remains highly effective. The Crinkled Zelon serves double duty as both the body (twisted to create segmentation) and the wing. The glossosoma adult black dubbing provides contrast and creates the thorax bulge common to emerging midges.
Materials
Hook: Tiemco 2488 or Umpqua U201, #20
Thread: Uni-Thread, 8/0, rusty dun
Body: Crinkled Zelon, medium dun (twisted for body, wing portion above)
Thorax: Zelon Dubbing, glossosoma adult black
Behavior & Presentation
Natural Behavior: Midge pupae ascend slowly through the water column toward the surface film in rhythmic pulses, hanging suspended as their adult forms prepare to emerge. Their year-round availability and concentrated emergence periods make them consistent forage.
Where Trout Eat It: Fish position in seams and slow runs, intercepting ascending pupae throughout the water column from bottom to film.
How to Fish It: Dead drift in the surface film where pupae hang suspended during final emergence, maintaining drag-free presentation.
Best Water: Focus on seams concentrating ascending midges, slicks where film-dwelling pupae accumulate, and tail-outs collecting suspended emergers.
Strike Type: Expect subtle sips barely disturbing the film or delicate takes easily missed without close observation.
Fishing Strategy
Rigging Suggestions: Fish on 12-15 foot leader with 6X-7X tippet. Can be fished alone or as a dropper below a larger dry fly. The sparse design requires fine tippet for natural presentation.
Seasonal Timing: Effective year-round during midge activity. Particularly productive during when midges dominate and fish become extremely selective.
Pro Tips: The medium dun Zelon wing provides moderate visibility. The sparse design rides low in the film.
Entomology
Midges drift in various life stages throughout the water column, from crawling larvae on bottom substrates to emerging pupae ascending toward the surface in rhythmic pulses. Their sheer abundance and year-round availability in both rivers and stillwaters make them a staple food source that trout feed on consistently, even during winter months.
- Order
- Diptera
- Family
- Chironomidae
- Common Name
- Midge
- Organism Type
- insect
- Life Stage
- general