Modern Midges
When we started fishing together on the South Platte River near Deckers, Colorado, we never thought that the tiny but abundant midge was going to become such an important part of our fly-fishing lives.
But as we gained experience on the Frying Pan, San Juan, and other Rocky Mountain tailwaters, we became immersed in all aspects of midge fishing. We dedicated more than 20 years and many hours and days to learn as much as possible about the techniques, equipment, presentation strategies, and fly patterns of the diminutive world of midges and the trout that eat them.
Our study of chironomid entomology led to years of experimentation at the vise, and together we developed more than 100 innovative patterns that represented the various stages of the midge life cycle. We soon realized that many other midge anglers were on the same quest, and our discussions with fellow midge fishers soon became one of our main avenues of discovering new patterns. Over the years, many friends have shared with us their most exciting cutting-edge larva, pupa, and adult midge imitations.
Our years of parking-lot networking—with fly boxes flung open—were enjoyable but didn’t seem the best way to share the combined knowledge of midge fishing. So, a few years ago we decided to write a book and we began contacting our like-minded friends, as well as fly tiers we met online, or have read or heard about.
Our fellow midge anglers gladly obliged, sharing samples and recipes of their favorite midge patterns. We soon amassed more than 1,000 fly patterns, along with detailed information on how to tie them, from some of the world’s best tiers in Japan, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Croatia, Slovakia, England, the U.S., and elsewhere.
This article contains just 12 of the 1,000 patterns we’ve collected. They aren’t the best, or even our favorites (it’s so hard to pick!), but they do represent the diversity and ingenuity we’ve found in the minuscule world of midge fishing.
Rick Takahashi is an illustrator, Umpqua Feather Merchants fly designer, and regular Fly Fisherman contributor. Jerry Hubka is a commercial artist and retired art teacher. Their upcoming book Modern Midges: Tying and Fishing the World’s Most Effective Patterns (Headwater Books) will be available in September 2009.
Copyright © 2012 Intermedia Outdoors
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