FLYMPH FORUM

ronr wrote: ↑Mon Dec 04, 2023 11:27 am Wayne.. I'm interested to know whether you seine the river bottom to see the color of the nymphs. I've fished a couple times in different parts of Colorado, and that is the only place I've found blood midges. Here i've found cream and black of course, but not other colors.
I don't necessarily follow the exact match the hatch theory, but your colorful larva must be good attractors.

DUBBN wrote: ↑Tue Dec 05, 2023 3:04 am

ronr wrote: ↑Mon Dec 04, 2023 11:27 am Wayne.. I'm interested to know whether you seine the river bottom to see the color of the nymphs. I've fished a couple times in different parts of Colorado, and that is the only place I've found blood midges. Here i've found cream and black of course, but not other colors.
I don't necessarily follow the exact match the hatch theory, but your colorful larva must be good attractors.

Hi Ron. Yes, the colorful larva are used mostly as attractors, although there are a few rivers that have a good population of "Blood Worms". The Blue River near Dillon Colorado being one of them.

I do not sein, I use a throat pump on 12 to 14 inch Brown trout when I happen to catch them. Which is most of the time as of late.

Some of the midge patterns I use are river specific. For example on the lower Gunnison and Colorado rivers this simple light Olive midge produces the most fish for me from November in to early March. I will fish other midge larva and emerger patterns with it, in different sizes and colors, but at the end of the season this midge produces over 75% of my trout on those rivers. I use this pattern in sizes 20 to 16.



I keep tabs on the San Juan River and what guides are tying there to imitate midge larva and pupa. Adding a little bling has become fashionable. Here is the popular Bling Midge. I took the idea and went a step farther. I have been experimenting with different colors. So far a light Blue Perdigon body is my favorite. Copper is a distant second. I have also been adding a light Blue wire as a rib to a few patterns, and adding Blue Krstalflash as a wing to some midge emergers.






Not a bling midge but a larva with a hot spot is one a buddy and I came up with called the Tequila Sunrise. Quite often when I sample the throat contents of fish on Roaring Fork River, olive or light brown midge larva have a spot of red somewhere on their body. It may be their tail, midsection, or head. This pattern was developed from that observation.

I use Semperfli Nano Silk, Red (30 denier). It is so thin it barely adds any bulk, and makes a nice red spot.



I rarely use UV resins anymore as I developed such a horrible reaction to it. I use it a few times a year now on a couple patterns that I have fallen in love with. Like the Tequila Sunrise. Someday I will post the photos of what it takes to set up to use it, and the protective gear I have to wear. Dumb I know, just like trying to add bling and hot spots to size 22 - 16 patterns. Dumb, but avenues I enjoy pursuing to catch trout, and tie flies.

Sorry about the ramble, Ron. I have a little insomnia going on.