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Executive Angler

dry

Olsen's CDC Midge

Sizes
#18
Imitates
midge adult · chironomid
Origin
Devin Olsen (presented by Gilbert Rowley in this book)

A black Crystal Flash–bodied midge with CDC wing, pink CDC hot spot, and grizzly hackle. A specialist pattern for long-leader tailwater work.

Recipe

This is one dressing. Tie it in other colors to match the hatch in front of you.

Swipe to see In box and Add

SizeBeadBodyIn boxAdd to box
#18

At the vise

Tying notes are not on file for this pattern.

Tying video

Fishing now on

Rivers whose hatch chart names this pattern this month. Names and sizes only.

On the water

Fish it on a 20'+ dry-fly leader. Presentation matters more than tippet size.

History

A few years ago Gilbert Rowley watched Devin Olsen catch trout on one of the most pressured tailwaters in the West — fish that leave most anglers scratching their heads. Long smooth glides, no broken water, easy to spot from the hiking trail and fished to non-stop. Devin was casting a dry-fly leader over 20' long with nearly flawless presentation, but when Rowley asked what fly, Devin showed him this CDC midge. Rowley has fished it on technical waters since and says it continues to produce — when it wasn't included in Devin's own section of the book, Rowley added it to his.

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