dry
Griffith's Gnat
- Sizes
- #18
- Imitates
- midge clusters · midge adults · Chironomid clusters
- Origin
- George Griffith, Michigan
Griffith's Gnat is the most important midge dry fly pattern in existence. Its peacock herl body and palmered grizzly hackle create a buggy silhouette that imitates a cluster of midges trapped in the surface film. When trout are rising to invisible insects on glassy water, this tiny fly is often the key to cracking the code.
Recipe
This is one dressing. Tie it in other colors to match the hatch in front of you.
Workbench
Variants
Swipe to see In box and Add
| Size | Bead | Body | In box | Add to box |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #18 | — | Black/Peacock | — | — |
At the vise
Palmer a grizzly hackle over a peacock herl body — one of the simplest and most effective dry fly designs ever conceived.
Tying video
Fishing now on
Rivers whose hatch chart names this pattern this month. Names and sizes only.
Not named on this month's hatch charts.
On the water
Present the Griffith's Gnat dead drift in the film during midge activity. Fish it in sizes #20-24 on tailwaters and spring creeks where trout sip midges from the surface. Apply floatant sparingly to let it sit IN the film, not on top of it.
History
George Griffith, a co-founder of Trout Unlimited, developed this pattern in Michigan. Its enduring effectiveness lies in its simplicity and ability to imitate midge clusters rather than individual midges — matching how trout actually feed during midge activity.