Midge Fishing for Trout: The Small Fly That Catches Fish Every Single Month
If you only fished one fly category for the rest of your life, midges would be a defensible choice. They hatch on every trout river in the country, in every month of the year, in conditions ranging from bluebird summer to below-freezing winter. Trout eat them constantly, often when they will not look at anything else. Small flies are not always easy to fish, but they are almost always worth fishing.
Q&A: Midge Fishing Explained
What is a midge and why do trout eat so many of them?
In fly fishing, midge refers to small two-winged flies in the family Chironomidae, which are among the most abundant aquatic insects in any freshwater system. They live in the sediment as larvae, pupate in the water column, and emerge as winged adults on the surface. Because they hatch year-round and in massive numbers, they represent a reliable, constant food source. A trout eating midges is not making an unusual feeding choice. It is eating the most predictable meal available, which is exactly why midge patterns produce fish when nothing else is happening.
How small are midges and what hook sizes should I use?
Midges range from roughly a size 10 in larger species down to size 26 or smaller in the tiniest tailwater varieties. On most rivers, sizes 18 through 22 cover the majority of midge fishing situations. On technical tailwaters like the South Platte or San Juan, sizes 22 through 26 are not unusual during picky conditions. A good starting point for most anglers is to carry midge patterns in sizes 18, 20, and 22 and adjust based on what you observe in the water and what size the rising fish seem to be eating.
When is midge fishing most important?
Winter. While midges matter year-round, they become the primary food source for trout from late November through March on most rivers. Other hatches slow or stop completely in cold water, but midges continue emerging even when ice forms on the rod guides. For winter fly fishing, midge larvae, pupae, and adult patterns are not a backup plan. They are the plan. On popular tailwaters where water temperatures stay consistent below dams, midge fishing can be exceptional throughout the coldest months of the year.
What is the difference between a midge larva, pupa, and adult pattern?
The three life stages require different patterns. Midge larvae are thin, segmented, and live in the streambed. Larva patterns are slim and often tied in red, olive, black, or cream to match the natural colors found in bottom sediment. Midge pupae are the stage that trout key on most heavily during a hatch. The pupa hangs in the surface film or just below it as it prepares to emerge, making it vulnerable and easy for trout to intercept. Pupa patterns are slightly bulkier than larvae with a distinct thorax. Adult midge patterns float on the surface and are used when trout are visibly sipping from the top, often in slow pools and eddies during late morning and early afternoon.
How do I detect takes when fishing small midge nymphs?
Small flies produce subtle takes. Under an indicator, watch for any hesitation, sideways drift, or slight dip of the indicator, not just a full plunge. In a tight-line or euro nymphing setup, watch the sighter and set on any deviation from the natural drift. Many midge takes on light tippet are so soft that the indicator barely moves. Developing the habit of setting the hook on anything that does not look completely natural is the key. You will set on a lot of rocks and sticks before you start catching all the fish you were previously missing.
Midge Patterns From Redd's
A slim, segmented midge pattern with UV zebra banding that suggests a midge pupa at depth. One of the most consistent producers in the shop for tailwater trout and winter nymphing.
A classic tailwater midge with a flashy segmented body that works as both a larva and pupa imitation. Highly effective in sizes 18 through 22 when trout are keyed on small midges.
The go-to midge cluster dry fly for rising trout during a midge hatch. A single Griffith's Gnat suggests a group of midges trapped in the surface film, which is exactly what trout are eating during slow-water surface feeds.
How to Fish Midges Effectively
Nymphing Midge Larvae and Pupae
Midge nymph fishing is most effective when you can get the fly into the zone where trout are holding and keep it there on a natural drift. Under an indicator, set the depth so the fly rides just above the bottom in riffles and runs. Use light tippet, typically 5X or 6X, to allow the tiny fly to drift without drag. A two-fly rig with a slightly heavier nymph as the anchor and a midge pattern as the trailer covers two depths and gives the fish options. In winter, slow down the drift more than feels natural. Cold water slows insect movement and fish metabolism alike.
Fishing the Midge Hatch
Midge hatches on tailwaters often happen in clusters, with fish rising in slow eddies, tail-outs, and flat pools. Watch the rises before choosing a fly. Trout sipping midges in flat water show subtle, gentle rings. They are eating very small food items with very little energy expenditure. Approach from downstream, use the longest practical leader and finest tippet the fish and conditions allow, and present with a reach cast that gives the longest drag-free drift. The difference between a take and a refusal is often three inches of drag.
Adult Midge Patterns in Slow Water
When trout are rising to adult midges on the surface, match the size closely and focus on the drift above all else. A size 22 Griffith's Gnat presented perfectly on a long, fine leader will outfish a more exact imitation presented with drag every time. Apply a small amount of floatant to adult midge patterns before the first cast and reapply as needed, but keep the pattern sitting low in the film rather than riding high on its hackle. Midges do not ride high on the surface. They cluster and struggle in the film, which is why patterns that sit flush are more effective than those that perch up on stiff hackle.
Winter Midge Fishing Tactics
Winter midge fishing demands patience with every part of the process. Dress warmly enough that you are not distracted by cold, because midge fishing requires concentration. Fish slowly and methodically through runs and pools, covering the water completely before moving. In winter, trout hold in slower water where they can conserve energy, so focus on the tail-outs of pools and deeper, slower runs rather than the faster riffled water that produces in spring and summer. Take the extra time to tie good knots, check your tippet for wind knots after every few casts, and set gently when you detect a take to avoid breaking off on light tippet.
Midge fishing is an exercise in detail. The flies are small, the takes are subtle, and the presentation requirements are exacting. But the reward is a technique that catches fish twelve months a year on water that goes completely dead for anglers who do not know how to fish small. Every blank day in winter is a day someone else was out there catching fish on a size 20 midge.