Male Midge

Midges In Fly Fishing Midges are the most important aquatic insects in some places, especially fertile spring creeks where they are extremely abundant and the current is so slow that it's efficient for trout to surface feed on very tiny insects. Midges can be used to gauge the local water quality. Some midges are large, up to hook size 14, but the majority are size 22 or smaller. The number of genera and species is hopelessly huge for angler entomologists to ever learn, and the identifing characteristics often require slide-mounting tiny parts under high-powered microscopes. Even the most Latin-minded fisherman must slip back to the basics--size and color--to describe his local midge hatches.   Midges rise to the surface as pupae and struggle slowly through the surface film while the pupa's body dangles vertically below. This is the most common stage for trout to take, though the adults may be useful at times too.  Midge pupae account for much of the mystifying midsummer spring creek action on evenings when no bugs seem to be in the air or on the water, yet trout are rising everywhere and ignoring one's flies. Recognizing a midge hatch is far from a guarantee of fish, however. Suitable imitation is not easy.  Despite the tiny size of midges, trout can be very selective to their size and color. Remember that a difference of a single hook size in the tiny sizes is a very large percentage difference and very noticeable by the trout. Netting some of the real insects before choosing a fly is surely a good idea, but it's easier said than done. [2]

Female Midge