Midge patterns are an essential part of any angler’s fly box. So, before you head out on your next fly fishing adventure, be sure to grab a few of these killer imitations.
In my experience, for beginners, one of the most surprising aspects of fly fishing is how small so many of the flies actually are. In fact, nearly every time I take a first-timer out to a river and rig them up with some sort of midge pattern, the first words out of their mouth are as follows: ‘will they really be interested in something that small?’
First of all, why do people always ask me that?
And second of all, yes! After over two decades of fly fishing experience, I can tell you with confidence that tiny midges are a staple in any healthy trout’s diet.
So, if you’re looking to improve your fish-catching odds, and you aren’t afraid of questions like, ‘why so small?’, then this post is for you. What follows are 10 of the absolute best midge patterns for trout. Just remember, what they lack in size, they make up for in performance.
Ok, let’s get started.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we will receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you click through and make a purchase.1. Zebra Midge
The lion may be the king of the jungle, but the Zebra is the king of the midges. As cool as that sounds, it’s kind of a lose-lose for Zebras, because either way, they’re going to get eaten. Circle of life. Deal with it.
If you are going to fish anywhere in the United States, you should have about a dozen of these on-hand in black, olive and red. Do I mean a dozen of each, or a dozen combined? I think you know what I’m going to say. Stop being cheap. Go buy a new fly box exclusively for Zebra Midges, and fill that sucker full of these wonderful little imitations.
“Nants’ ingonyama, bakithi, baba. Sithi hu ‘ngonyama.” – The Lion King
What, you don’t speak Zulu?
2. Root Beer Midge
My dad introduced me to the Root Beer Midge a few years back, and it was one of the best moments in my fly fishing journey. I’ll never forget it. He looked at me and said, “Here, try this.” It was a beautiful moment.
Oh, and while we’re on the subject, when a man with over 50 years of fly fishing experience tells you to try a certain pattern, don’t question it. Just tie one to the end of your line and buckle up.
Now, just so we’re clear, you don’t want to go out and buy any midge that’s just root beer colored. You need to make sure the pattern is actually a Root Beer Midge. It’s a subtle difference, but one pattern will leave you much less satisfied than the other.
It’s pretty easy to identify a true Root Beer Midge by the segmented rubber body, and the WD-40-like thorax (if that makes any sense). But, just so I’m sure you get the right one, here is a link to buy one on DiscountFlies.
3. Manhattan Midge
The Manhattan Midge has the flash and pizazz to make it on Broadway, with the tenacity to hold its own on Wall Street. Is that why it’s designer named it the Manhattan Midge? I don’t know. You’ll have to ask him.
This pattern is an amalgam of the best aspects of many midge patterns on this list. With its segmented body, flashabou wings, and peacock hurl head, it is sure to draw some fire the next time you hit the water.
In particular, if you plan on fishing any section of the South Platte, you should keep a few of these things at the ready.
4. Trailing Shuck Midge
Of all the patterns on this list, this is the most unique. And while this midge might not be a 24/7 slayer, it is one that you need to keep in your fly box. Why? Because, if you ever find yourself standing in a river and see a bunch of emergers floating across the surface with their shuck still attached, you’re going to look back on reading this article and regret not taking my advice.
Tragic.
Oh, and since this pattern is an emerger, don’t be surprised if fish come clear out of the water when they hit it. Man I love that!
Buy 5 of these. Actually, no… buy 6.
5. Morgan’s Midge
Morgan’s Midge is one of the simpler flies on this list, and similar to the Trailing Shuck Midge, it features, well, a trailing shuck. You can fish this little gem as either an emerger or a dry fly, so don’t be afraid to throw a little floatant on it.
If you really want to give the fish what they want, you could trail a Trailing Shuck Midge from a Morgan’s Midge. Just be ready for a show of flying trout.
Oh, and if you ever see some Blue-winged Olives coming off the water, don’t be afraid to throw one of these bad boys on. With their olive body and dark wings, the Morgan’s Midge can produce great results in a BWO hatch.
6. Crystal Midge
If the Zebra Midge isn’t quite flashy enough for your liking, then you should consider buying a few Crystal Midges.
With a heavy tungsten head, and flashabou wings, this thing sinks quickly, and draws the attention of every fish in the room. This killer imitation is particularly great when you’re casting in off-colored water, or to finicky fish.
7. Greenie Weenie Tungsten Midge
If you ever hear a grown man talking about his Greenie Weenie, there’s a good chance that he’s about to put it in his palm and show it to you. And if you’ve never seen one before, don’t be afraid to grab it and take a closer look. It may be small and green, but it has magic powers that could change your life.
Seriously though, this little midge pattern (yeah, we were talking about a midge pattern, you sicko) is one of the best flies you will ever buy.
I’ve seen a couple different variations of this pattern over time, but the one you want to look for has a striking resemblance to a Zebra Midge. It has a purple tungsten bead head, a green, flashabou-segmented, body.
8. D-Midge
If you plan on fishing the Taylor River or Gunnison any time soon, then you should stock your fly box with a few D-Midges in grey and red. Though, if you are going to be fishing any river in the western United States, it’s a good idea to keep at least a few at the ready.
My first experience with a D-Midge was about 5 years ago, and while I haven’t had the chance to try this in as many places as the other flies on this list, from what I can see, fish will hit this thing just about anywhere you go.
9. Smokejumper Midge
Ask just about any experienced angler what their favorite midge patterns are, and the Smokejumper will probably be in their top 10…including me. This fly, as funny as it looks, makes fish go crazy.
You can get this midge in all sorts of color variations, but the most common are probably red, black and grey.
10. Top Secret Midge
I’d love to go into great detail about the Top Secret Midge, but I don’t have the security clearance. All I can tell you is that you should buy about 50 of these things. Just be sure to pay cash, and avoid talking about it over the phone; unless of course you are on a secure line.
Seriously though, if you plan on fishing any tailwater in the western United States, you should keep a lot of these on hand, because this fly is unbelievable. I mean, it was invented by Pat Dorsey, so what else would you expect?
I recommend buying it in the traditionally brown, white and red version, but the all red and all black versions work pretty great as well.
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