Midge / EmergersWilson Emerger
Hans Weilenmann's Wilson Emerger imitates a midge hanging half out of its shuck in the surface film. A thread-built abdomen and rib keep the body slim, sparse silver Z-lon forms the trailing shuck and wing support, and a natural CDC wing with a slender olive hare thorax complete the profile.
Spring, Summer, Fall
Intermediate
Trout
Feb 2026
Overview
The abdomen and rib are built entirely from tying thread, keeping the body as slim as the natural midge it imitates. A few sparse strands of silver Z-lon trail behind as the shuck while also propping up a natural CDC wing, and a slender pinch of olive Argentinean hare dubs the thorax. Bronze mallard barbs form the tail. The low, thread-thin profile suits midges caught in the surface film at the moment they shed the pupal shuck, a stage trout target heavily in stillwaters and slow pools where midges hatch through much of the year. Fish it dead-drift in the film on both moving water and lakes.
Where to Buy This Fly
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Materials
- Hook:
- Grip 14723BL #16-22
- Thread:
- Benecchi 12/0, olive (or color of your choice)
- Tail:
- Bronze mallard barbs
- Abdomen:
- Tying thread
- Shuck/shellback, wing support:
- Z-lon, silver - sparse
- Rib:
- Tying thread
- Wing:
- CDC, natural
- Thorax:
- Argentinean hare, olive - slender (or color to suit the natural)
Behavior & Presentation
Natural Behavior: Midge pupae ascend slowly through the water column using gentle undulating body movements, pausing frequently at mid-depth before continuing toward the surface film. During these vulnerable pauses, ascending pupae hang nearly motionless while transitioning between depths, creating easy targets for selective feeders.
Where Trout Eat It: Suspended at mid-column depths or hanging just beneath the surface film, where trout cruise productive zones intercepting ascending pupae during the slow rise toward emergence.
How to Fish It: Dead drift at depths matching observed feeding activity, using indicator or tight-line technique to detect subtle takes as trout intercept suspended pupae during their vulnerable ascent phases.
Best Water: Tail-outs and flats where midge emergence concentrates, slicks below riffles, and foam lines where ascending pupae collect before completing emergence in the surface film.
Strike Type: Gentle sips or subtle indicator movements as selective trout intercept suspended pupae with minimal effort during the midge's vulnerable transition from mid-column to surface film.
Fishing Strategy
Rigging Suggestions: Fish on 9-12 foot leader with 4X-5X tippet. Add weight as needed to achieve proper depth. Can be fished under an indicator or with a tight-line technique.
Seasonal Timing: Effective during peak feeding periods when water temperatures and conditions support active feeding behavior.
Pro Tips: Sinks at a moderate rate depending on hook weight. The natural materials blend well with the aquatic environment.
Entomology
Midge pupae ascend through the water column in a slow, deliberate rise toward the surface film where they hang vulnerably while their adult form emerges from the pupal shuck. Trout target these midges during this transition phase because they are trapped in the meniscus and unable to escape, providing an easy meal in stillwaters and slow pools where midges are abundant year-round.
- Order
- Diptera
- Family
- Chironomidae
- Common Name
- Midge
- Organism Type
- insect
- Life Stage
- general
