midge
Thread Midge
The Thread Midge is the simplest larval midge imitation: a thread body with optional wire rib and a tiny bead. It imitates the slender, worm-like midge larvae that make up the bulk of a trout's winter diet on tailwaters and spring creeks. Tied in sizes #20-26, it tests both the tyer's skill and the angler's patience, but the results speak for themselves.
Originated by Tailwater guides, various
Recipe
- HookMidge hook (TMC 2488) · Tiemco
- ThreadBlack tying thread 8/0 or 70 denier · Semperfli
- BodyTying thread wrapped, UV resin coated
- RibSilver wire extra-small
- HeadUV cure resin
History
Thread midge patterns evolved from the practical necessity of imitating insects as small as 2-3mm long. Tailwater anglers on the South Platte, San Juan, and Bighorn rivers refined the design to its absolute essence: thread, wire, and a bead.
Tying overview
Slide a micro bead onto the hook, wrap a smooth thread body, and optionally rib with fine wire. Minimalism at its finest.
Fishing tips
Fish the Thread Midge as a dropper behind a slightly larger fly in a two-nymph rig. On tailwaters, suspend it under a small dry fly or indicator, dead drifting through slow runs and eddies. Trout eat midges year-round, but this pattern is most valuable in winter.