midge

Zebra Midge

Sizes: #16
Imitates: midge pupae · midge larvae · Chironomids
Origin: South Platte River guides, early 2000s

The Zebra Midge is the simplest and most effective midge pattern ever designed. A thread body with wire rib and a small bead creates the segmented look of a midge pupa that trout feed on relentlessly in tailwaters. When fish are rising to invisible food, this is almost always the answer.

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
#16	tungsten · Silver tungsten	Black	—	—

At the vise

Slide a small bead onto the hook, wrap a thread body, rib with fine wire, and whip finish. That's it — simplicity is the point.

Tying video

Fishing now on

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

On the water

Fish the Zebra Midge as the dropper in a two-nymph rig, 18-24 inches below a heavier point fly. On tailwaters, fish it in the film suspended under a small dry fly. Trout eat midges year-round but especially in winter when nothing else is hatching.

History

The Zebra Midge originated on Colorado's South Platte River tailwaters in the early 2000s, though its exact originator is debated. Its genius lies in extreme simplicity — thread, wire, and a bead — making it easy to tie in bulk and devastating on midge-heavy waters like Cheesman Canyon and the San Juan River.

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