Re: Midge
Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2016 10:49 am
Somehow I missed this one earlier. Dandy midge pattern! I know this would work well on a spring creek I fish. Thanks for sharing.
I don't think fish ignore the hook, they are just indifferent to it. I think fish bite because of positive triggers (and not necessarily natural or imitative) and decline a fly either out of not enough positive triggers or negative triggers. I just believe the hook is neither a positive or negative trigger.
Now with regards to "showing a lot of hook", I don't think it matters as to whether a fish takes or declines a particular fly, but what matters is the hooking capabilities of the pattern. When I tie small flies such as midge patterns, I don't pay much attention to matching the size of the hook to the fly pattern and I rarely go smaller than a #18 hook. I will tie a #22 pattern on a #18 and show plenty of hook. It doesn't seem to make a difference in the takes, but makes a difference in the hook ups. I have been on a lot of water where guys say you need #22s and #24s. True, the naturals are that size and that is what the fish are taking, as long as the pattern is representative, I haven't found a larger hook size to be a deterrence to strikes.
...and yes this pattern has plenty going for it and I wouldn't hesitate to fish it in any midge hatch.