GRIFFITHS GNAT

[Acristickid]

I am going to toss this question out there for the more experienced tyers. I am still a journeyman.

Is Griffiths Gnat supposed to represent a "ball" of midges going at it or just one midge?

I saw a reference in a book I was reading that eluded to a pattern that was to represent a group of midges. Can this be tied two different ways?

Paul

 

[mute]

A group of midges, yep

 

[jayL]

A griffith's gnat is meant to imitate a group of mating adult midges.

It can be tied in any color, though the standard is herl and grizzly. I've seen them in cream/cream as well as a few other combinations too.

Hell, while you're at it, tie some tiny bivisibles and see how they work.

 

[dryflyguy]

I don't remember ever catching a fish on a griffiths gnat, in spite of it's reputation as a go to fly. This puzzles me. Even if the fish don't want it as a midge cluster, it's quite buggy looking, and you think they would take it anyway.
I've tied - and used them - in sizes #16 down to #24, with no success.
Maybe I just haven't been in the right place at the right time.

 

[jayL]

I've had most of my success with them in the middle of winter, and as an attractor pattern.

I've talked to a gentleman on the Tully one day that swears by them in a white or cream color as large as size 16. Says its his go-to fly.

Just like me with muddler minnows... nothing works until you have faith that it will. Once you catch a few on them, you'll start fishing them harder and more effectively because you'll expect them to work. That's how I always saw it anyway.

 

[afishinado]

Who knows what the fish thinks it is? The GG is a great fly to try first when fish are rising to the small stuff, before trying to net the little buggers to match a midge hatch. In addition, sometimes a GG works when your hatch matching attempts fail with larger flies. They also work well during low flows in the summer, probably mistaken by the fish for a small terrestrial bug. Great fly and easy to tie - never leave home without it.

 

[Bruno]

I am with Jay on this one. I have had great success with this fly on the yough in the middle of the winter. If you get a mild winter day and your fishing, tie on a gnat. On of my best days ever was spent fishing a gnat at the dam.

I tie them 12 - 18

 

[RLeeP]

>>Who knows what the fish thinks it is?>>

'Zactly...

I've caught trout on them, but I have no idea if the fish think they are a ball of gnats, a single gnat or a tiny caterpillar or a crescent wrench...

Many years ago, I had a friend who refused to fish Griffith Gnats. He said that compared to a small grizzly bivisible, they were useless..

This is a funny sport...🙂