Most of my midge-fishing knowledge I learned from the people I consider to be the real experts on some of the most highly pressured waters in the Rocky Mountain West, but this information is effective everywhere there are midges and trout. Hey Phil sorry for the delayed response I didnt get the notification. As with most aquatic insects, midges have several life stages that both fly fishers and trout recognize: larva, pupa, and adult; plus two transitional phases, emerger and cluster. Tough to see on the water when fished alone, it is best fished trailing behind a slightly larger, more visible pattern, such as a Parachute Adams or Twilight Parachute Midge. 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. Suppose you don't tie your own flies, no worries. Just remember, what they lack in size, they make up for in performance. I mean, it was invented by Pat Dorsey, so what else would you expect? Youve got to fish tiny flies, I know this might be new to you and it might be difficult, but these trout are eating tiny bugs. Watch and wade with us as we chase bonefish on the sand flats of the Bahamas and tag them on the grass flats of the Keys. You have to spoon-feed these trout so all they have to do is open their mouths. Havent met him, but hes a Colorado fly fishing guide for Anglers Covey and fly tying instructor for both Ghillies Fly Shop and Anglers Covey. Kasey Marsters @ FoxTrick Flies You simply can't cast 10 feet upstream of a trout and hope the fly drifts directly to him. You can catch fish on midge patterns, dry flies, annelids, eggs and streamer patterns. Most of my fishing is on reservoirs sometimes desolate windy rough places, where buzzers come into their own. I've seen anglers who had to pay out line from their reel manually, because every time a fish hit the reel, it would break off their 7X tippet. All I can tell you is that you should buy about 50 of these things. These gorilla midges come off in droves and are often represented on hook sizes 18-22, forsaking the typically tiny San Juan fare of 26-30s. To fish the San Juan effectively during the winter you may need to fish differently than you do in other seasons, but by adapting to the conditions you can be successful. Your rod choice will vary with the river you are fishing, the wind conditions, and water levels. If you are fortunate to be on the river during the "ant hatch", you could experience phenomenal dry fly fishing for large trout using ant patterns. How to Remove Wind Knots and Snarls from Leaders and Tippet, How to Mend, Set the Hook, and Strip Line, 2021 Fly Fisherman Father's Day Gift Guide, Temps for Trout: How to Catch Fish that Behave Hot n Cold, Try attaching the bottom fly with a non-slip loop knot, Costa Films Presents Hooked On: Bonefish, Pharmaceutical Pollution Threatens Florida's Shallow-Water Fish. If youve never fished tiny nymph patterns the San Juan is going to teach you some lessons. Weight on your leader helps you get down to where the fish are, but it also interferes with your ability to detect strikes because it creates a dead zone between the weight and the rest of your leader. Tags: Flash Thread Midge, Flash Thread Midge Fly Pattern, Fly Tying, San Juan Fly Patterns, Simple midge fly patterns, tailwater fly patterns. Some are classics that may be familiar to you, and some are local secrets. The best midge fishermen have great powers of observation and a meticulous, predatory approach to their angling. Each midge life stage is important to trout, and fly fishers need patterns to imitate all stages and every color phase found in nature. The authors amassed more than 1,000 fly patterns and recipes, along with detailed information on how to tie them, from some of the worlds best tiers in Japan, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Croatia, Slovakia, England, the U.S., and elsewhere, for their book, Modern Midges. I fish two flies and always position the top fly above the weight so I have direct contact with at least one fly. Dont go out on a tailwater fishery without a healthy selection of midge patterns, both subsurface and dry. Johnny Gomez's Johnny Flash has the profile of the WD-40 and the emerging wing of the RS2. 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. Things can change suddenly during a midge hatch, or combined midge hatches, especially on productive water where large trout have the luxury of targeting specific stages of specific insects. When midges are not balling up and trout are selectively feeding on tiny individual insects (which is most of the time), it's time for a more realistic imitation. For the San Juan River, I generally fish a size 22-26 size midge pattern, but other rivers might allow for larger midges and therefor easier to tie and fish. Traditional Public Charter Magnet. Dont let all the drift boats let you think youve got to float this river. This river is a unique blend of rapids and pools, each offering its own unique challenges to the angler. And learn why it's called Burning Man. The hatch is best on cloudy days. A typical fly in this area is 22 to 26, this is technical water with difficult-to-reach seams. Zebra Midge: A Small But Mighty Fly Pattern, 10 Fly Fishing Accessories Every Angler Should Own, Your email address will not be published. As spring progresses, fish move out of their winter holds actively feeding on midges and other insects. Just email us at info@bighornangler.com. It is a scientific fact that fluorocarbon has a light refraction index close to that of water, which is supposed to make your leader "invisible" to fish. You are not allowed to post links (http://) in comments. Keep up the good work you guys. Trout feast on these midges all year long, and in the late fall, winter, and early spring, they feed on them almost exclusively. Your email address will not be published. If you ever hear a grown man talking about his Greenie Weenie, theres a good chance that hes about to put it in his palm and show it to you. With a heavy tungsten head, and flashabou wings, this thing sinks quickly, and draws the attention of every fish in the room. Thank you for visiting SanJuanRiverFlies.com. Texas Midge - Top Annelid Pattern for the San Juan River! Their elusive behavior, expert camouflage and skittish personalities make bonefish the quintessential poster child for shallow water sight-fishing. Sometimes youll seasonal spikes, especially in mid-summer. Learn to tie Harrop's Hairwing Dun with master tier Charlie Craven. Single adult. The number of repeat customers over the past 9 years is a testament to the quality of our ties and customer service. Anybody you guides and ties flies for a living is OK in my book. 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. In addition to co-founding Fly Fishing Fix with his father, Matt, Zach also runs a personal finance blog called Be The Budget. Jerry Hubka is a commercial artist and retired art teacher. This has become a reliable pattern for many tailwater guides because it is not only effective, but its easy to see, as well. Longer rods are nice, I used a 10-foot, 4-weight nymphing rod. Maybe before repeating old article postings, Orvis online editors should check and update or delete old links. That's fine if you are out for the fresh air, but if you want to make every cast count, you must alter your leader to suit specific water depths. His series of midge patterns-every one called "Yong" after his real Korean name-covers every subsurface stage of the midge life cycle, and he fishes them like a man possessed. The Parachute Adams is the perfect dry fly for the South Platte River. San Juan Worm - Size 16 San Juan Worm size 16 The San Juan Worm is a great fly to pair with any nymph rig you're fishing. HOOK: #14-20 Tiemco 2457.THREAD: Black 8/0 Uni-Thread.BODY: Red and green Ultra Wire wrapped together.WING: Small tuft of Z-lon.THORAX: Gray and green rabbit fur, mixed. The "ant hatch" isn't a hatch, but is caused by runoff from a large rain which brings ants into the river. Outfitter and local expert Tim Heng showed me how to defeat this type of drag on the Frying Pan River. The description of the pattern and what it intends to imitate are directly in the name: its a direct imitation of a midge pupa transitioning into the adult phase of the life cycle. Nants ingonyama, bakithi, baba. Hook: TMC 101 size 22 Watch and wade with us as we chase bonefish on the sand flats of the Bahamas and tag them on the grass flats of the Keys. Is that why its designer named it the Manhattan Midge? Now, just so were clear, you dont want to go out and buy any midge thats just root beer colored. Unfortunately, with a daily blog featuring more than a decade of content, we cant keep track of all the links that change over time. These tiny patterns have proven themselves aseffective go to patterns formany Bighorn anglers and guides. Sometimes this is the case, but in most instances, the trout has not seen the fly. Great photo, Trey! This pattern is often fished tandem with either a scud or sowbug, and with enough weight to keep it in the proper strike zone. Fish as a dropper under a dry to imitate emerging midges. Red and Black Midge(sizes 18 & 20) Duranglers' San Juan Flash Midge Pupa is a staple pattern for fishing the San Juan or anywhere trout feed on midges. When fish begin to key on pupae, they start taking the top fly more than the bottom fly, but there are other signs. Check out the link below for more reviews and current pricing. .004 lbs. We find that it imitates dead midges and mating clusters well. Nice to give the web sites hits for sharing their content, but bad to frustrate your users. | Online School . But I would be happy to send each and every one of you pictures of each pattern if you would like. Winter Fishing(December, January, February) Fish are active feeding on midge and other insects including mayflies, caddis, scuds, annelids and terrestrials depending on what part of the river you are in. Riwaka Brassie Spring Fishing(March, April, May) From the accessible Quality Waters to the remote and challenging Upper Flats, this river has something for everyone. 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. Ive seen a couple different variations of this pattern over time, but the one you want to look for has a striking resemblance to a Zebra Midge. The most basic serger thread pallette every serger owner needs is: 4 White Spools. Ill never forget it. FAQs . It has a purple tungsten bead head, a green, flashabou-segmented, body. One thing about this riveryou don't need to have a P.H.D. With the setup I just described you need to be able to adjust the depth fast. That's all I can tie in a #24 or smaller. Fixed the links, folks. Check with abes Fly shop on water quality before you go. Is it possible to repost this with a photo of the flies? The "ant hatch" isn't a hatch, but is caused by runoff from a large rain which brings ants into the river. He created DIY Fly Fishing to help you do the same. An indicator that moves quickly and stays in place after you move it will make your day more enjoyable. A perfect imitation of the ubiquitous dragonfly built with a compelling yet simple approach. I have had good success with just a thread-body fly with two turns of grizzly hackle. Drifting down the Juan is the perfect day trip in a drift boat. NC 28150 (505) 436-6261. sales@sanjuanriverflies.com And Get Our FREE Beginners Youll have to ask him. Make sure that you take the necessary precautions when lightning is in the area. Learn to tie the Sparkle Caddis Pupa with master tier Charlie Craven. All worm or midge patterns are super simple to tie, and if you do tie your own flies, they should be a breeze for you. The pupa's thick thorax contains the adult's developing wings. As Noel Gollehan discussed at our recent PVFF club meeting, midges hatching on the San Juan River in New Mexico range in size from 20-24. Nemo, Give a Gift The hatch is strongest from 10:30 to 2:00, then again in the last hour of the day. Fall fishing continues the regular fishing patterns of summer with fish feeding aggressively on midges, annelids, scuds, terrestrials and mayflies. 6. Spring flows can also bring a little discolored water to the San Juan caused by silt flowing into the lake or by lake turnover. For the San Juan River, I generally fish a size 22-26 size midge pattern, but other rivers might allow for larger midges and therefor easier to tie and fish. Think long and slender for midge larvae, short and squat for midge pupae. Take A Break From Those Boring Work Emails, Its our firm belief that life is better when youre casting a fly rod. It is turbid with about 1 foot of visibility throughout the quality. I think you know what Im going to say. Streamer fishing has been good. So, before you head out on your next fly fishing adventure, be sure to grab a few of these killer imitations. If the Zebra Midge isnt quite flashy enough for your liking, then you should consider buying a few Crystal Midges. They'll move side to side more frequently, gulping pupae bound for the surface, and they'll often move into different water types to take advantage of the hatch. The Bling Midge is one of our go-to midge patterns for hard to impress trout on the San Juan, Dolores, or any freestone river in the fall or spring when midges are abounding. Heavy weight gets your flies down to fish in fast water but can also act like an anchor, creating undetectable subsurface drag. The scenery will be spectacular with the entire valley turning "gold" from the cottonwood leaves - bring your camera. Click Here Google Map for Fly Fishing the San Juan River. Dropping to 7X will almost always increase your hookups, and decrease the number of fish you land. I love everything to do with fly fishing. Just be sure to pay cash, and avoid talking about it over the phone; unless of course you are on a secure line. Do I mean a dozen of each, or a dozen combined? Heres a Suggestion. Rick Takahashi is an illustrator, Umpqua Feather Merchants fly designer, and regular Fly Fisherman contributor. If you can master the tiny midge game in these waters youre going to be rewarded. Read . These circumstances require special tactics and tiny flies that imitate the prevalent midge population. Available in a variety of sizes (usually from 18-20), colors, and species, this is a descending-body pattern. Fall is a favorite fishing time for many fishermen and fisherwomen. The hatch chart is a general guideline and can vary based on water flow, temperature, and other factors. ", https://www.usbr.gov/uc/water/crsp/cs/nvd.html. Vast deserts and desolate mountains dominate most of the landscape. This provided nearly 13 feet of leader to adjust the depth. While I am tying this very small, it doesn't have to be tied this small only. Their book Modern Midges: Tying and Fishing the Worlds Most Effective Patterns (Headwater Books) was published in September 2009. While I am tying this very small, it doesn't have to be tied this small only. Our Orvis endorsed Fly Shop is well stocked to get you on the river and catching some San Juan River trout. Summer is the busiest time of year. Its pretty easy to identify a true Root Beer Midge by the segmented rubber body, and the WD-40-like thorax (if that makes any sense). The consistent cold water and steady stream flow are perfect for the bugs and trout. The flash collar attracts fish, and also acts like a wing case. For nymphing, I'd focus on the usual plethora of small San Juan midge patterns, with an emphasis on larva and pupa patterns earlier in the day and emerger patterns starting around 11:00 or so. Seriously though, this little midge pattern (yeah, we were talking about a midge pattern, you sicko) is one of the best flies you will ever buy. Midge pupae. Learn to tie the Woolly Bugger fly with master tier Charlie Craven. This is one of our favorite midge-larva patterns on sunny days. During high flows it is best to fish only safely wade able areas or fish from a drift boat. There are more than 100 midge species in North America alone, and it is highly likely that all streams and stillwaters contain midges. Adding a foot to the depth can mean success. Hook: TMC 101 size 22 This pattern often gets overlooked by anglers in the shop, but it is a frequent choice for many of the guides. Public School Type. Check out the full of story of Sage Indendi Johnson's journey from a path towards professional basketball to guiding in Alaska. Then something amazing happened Flying Ants! 33 Road 4279 (PO Box 6442) Navajo Dam, NM 87419. Summer is the busiest time of year. HOOK: #19-23 Tiemco 212Y.THREAD: Black 16/0.POST: Pink Aero Dry Wing.RIB: Fine black monofilament thread.BODY: Tan 16/0 thread.HACKLE: Dun.THORAX: Synthetic peacock. Where I first learned to fly fish, everyone said, "Big flies catch big fish," and that was true. We cannot keep them in stock. Magical Krystal Flash. Our Orvis endorsed Fly Shop is well stocked to get you on the river and catching some San Juan River trout. Luckily this is right in the range that the flow is managed to. Go buy a new fly box exclusively for Zebra Midges, and fill that sucker full of these wonderful little imitations. I start adding 6X or 7X tippet after changing out 3 or 4 flies. Pay attention to the insects in the water, both where they are and what they look like, and you will be rewarded. Andy Yong Kim - a guide on the San Juan Riveris one of these trout hunters. I love chasing brown trout, big lake run monsters, night time trophies and memories of big boys that got away. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. The midge hatches have been increasingly better with each day as we head into the fall season here and there have been BWOs on the water in the lower sections of the river. Weight.004 lbs: Dimensions.2 .08 .01 in: Reviews . An injury and what seemed like the end of a career paved the way for a new passion. https://foxtrickadventures.com/foxtrickflies/. But, just so Im sure you get the right one, here is a link to buy one on DiscountFlies. He used similar weight to get the fly down to the level of the fish, but when his fly was about 12 or 18 inches in front of the fish, he "hopped" the weight off the river bottom, creating slack in his tippet between the weight and the fly. Fall Fishing(September, October, November) Use big heavy nymphs as a point fly to get the offering down into the strike zone. It fishes well when tied in both olive and black. Phantom of the flats. The Bonefish & Tarpon Trust's Dr. Ross Boucek explains what pharmaceutical and chemical runoff and pollution could mean for Florida's shallow-saltwater gamefish. I consider these tailwater midge hatches to be one of fly-fishing's highest plateaus To sight-fish to enormous trout with tiny flies and gossamer tippets is a true test of your angling mettle. However, when I put fluorocarbon in water, I can still see it, and since it's stiffer than mono, I'm convinced it's more likely to impede the natural action of my fly. A Griffith's Gnat will take some fish, but the right single adult midge patternwith the proper presentation - will catch every fish. I love casting medium-fast dry fly rods, so youll see me using my 9-foot, fiberglass 5-weight. Your email address will not be published. Copyright 2023 DIY Fly Fishing, all rights reserved. A #22-#28 dry fly is impossible for me to see on the water, so I rarely even look for it. Zebra Midge. The San Juan River is a true gem for fly fishing enthusiasts, offering a variety of environments and species to catch. My dad used to say this statement every time we were in the Southwest. If you are serious about fishing midge hatches, your first course of action will be to sample what's in the water with a seine or a small aquarium net. Parrotts Chironoflash Pupa(sizes 18 & 20) Its also just as effective. Resin: Solarez Bone Dry UV Curing Resin. We are putting out content just like this every week, and wed love to have you join in all the fly fishing banter. Tied on a stout jig hook and using black bead chain eyes for weight instead of the usual slotted bead, the pattern rides hook point up on the bottom without fear of snagging and those big eyes square off the head shape nicely, furthering the accurate silhouette. Either way, your shopping cart will be active until you leave the store. We often fish it as point fly with a Zebra Midge or Transitional Midge trailed behind. Some streams and stillwaters contain huge midge numbers, and trout in these environments feed on them almost exclusively. The river is running at 500cfs, to meet demands for water downstream of the dam. My TFO Drift worked pretty well here. Guide Recommendation: James Garrett and the guys at About Trout ( link) THE GUIDES if you cant get in James boat ask for Kyle. But that doesn't mean that it's free to run. Perfect for a day of hiking and fishing. Junior: Choices Charter school is an excellent school because it allows students to focus on education instead of being distracted. Here is a list of materials I used on this fly, and links to where you can purchase them. The midges are clustering so try fishing a cluster to a single dry midge. I would recommend you order some from Umpqua. If you want your fly right on the bottom, the distance between your strike indicator and terminal fly should be about 1 1/2 times the depth of the water. Ive said it a bunch of times in this article. It may be small and green, but it has magic powers that could change your life. Sorry about that. Our San Juan River Flies are hand tied with pride here in the U.S.A. with top of the line Daiichi, Gamakatsu and Maruto hooks. Easy to tie, easy to follow on the water and a perfect choice when the fish are picky. That's all it took for the trout to inhale his #20 red midge larva imitation. Man I love that! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mcflytier/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcflyangler/Twitter: https://twitter.com/McFlyAngler Special Thanks to my Supporters! Our fellow midge anglers gladly obliged, sharing samples and recipes of their favorite midge patterns. Early in the day, you are likely to see more midge larvae than anything else. If you are fortunate to be on the river during the "ant hatch", you could experience phenomenal dry fly fishing for large trout using ant patterns. Are you ready to up your casting game? Fluorocarbon sinks and should not be used for dry-fly or surface fishing. The Gray Ghost. During many of my trips I wasnt able to jump into this honey hole so I made the wade across the river and fished on the north side of the river. My friend and I showed Heng a trout we had spent hours trying to catch, and he promptly hooked and landed the 12-pound leviathan in three casts. The Manhattan Midge has the flash and pizazz to make it on Broadway, with the tenacity to hold its own on Wall Street. Duranglers San Juan River guide service and fly shop has been in business for 30 years. Trout have less time to inspect your fly pattern when they feed close to the surface, but the fishing is rarely easy. After over two decades of fly fishing experience, I can tell you with confidence that tiny midges are a staple in any healthy trouts diet. Fisheads also can sell NM State Fishing Licenses. He looked at me and said, Here, try this. It was a beautiful moment. 923 Main Ave. Durango, CO 81301 970-385-4081 [email protected] 970-385-4081. . This article contains just 12 of the 1,000 patterns weve collected. Give a Gift | All Rights Reserved. and Bear Goode's Sparkle Larva are the best examples of these types of patterns. We love Mary in Charlotte !! Ive got a FREE video workshop teaching how to dry fly fish at this link How 2 Fly Fish, Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | About | Contact | The Team | Advertise with Guide Recommended, Disclosure: "This site is owned and operated by River Traditions LLC, a limited liability company headquartered in Michigan, USA. The micro pearl flash helps imitate the gasses the pupa uses to rise to the surface. 5. As a lifelong fly fisherman, I can tell you that the San Juan River is a true gem, and in this article, Ill take you on a tour of the best spots to wet a line. Did you enjoy this article? The combination of white Zelon, and grizzly hackle imitates the clustered midges very effectively. When he isn't casting his fly rod, you can find him writing, tying flies, and dreaming about fly fishing. Weight. They arent the best, or even our favorites (its so hard to pick! Fishing can still be very good during discolored water conditions, you need to adapt your techniques to the conditions. It has all . Fisheadscan provide fly patterns of the San Juan River when you arrive. Try attaching the bottom fly with a non-slip loop knot. Barr Emerger . Such as smart crowd. If he doesnt get you in his boat, hes got a long list of excellent guides to set you up. A trout hanging just inches below the surface has a very narrow field of vision, and in some instances, a fly delivered inches to one side or the other is off target. However, if the water is cold and you know how to pressure a fish without breaking your tippet, then there's nothing wrong with dropping to 7X in some instances. In the below article, we will run through how to fish and tie the pattern. Anything with a bead or with a pronounced thorax has the wrong profile. If you space your flies too far apart, you lose the effectiveness of the attractor fly. Phantom of the flats. Just like the Griffiths Gnat, the key to its effectiveness seems to be in the iridescence of the peacock body. That said, Ill update these links today. Glass Bead Disco Midge - Blue. Grease the leader and tippet down to within a foot of the fly, and you should be able to see the tippet on the water. Another new pattern from Jan Grandal-Johansen, this time a buzzer emerger that fishes well on the reservoirs in the UK. As with the leader length, you must constantly change the weight on your leader to match the water depth and speed you are fishing in.

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