Need to up my midge game - tips and hints please

[Letort]

I was on the Letort the other night (but this applies to almost any body of water) and an occasional rise was happening. Nothing apparent in the air for a hatch, so assuming they were after midges. Tied on a 26 Griffith gnat but no interest. Was really tough to get a good drift with the cress beds popping up through the water surface and grabbing line and leader.

I am probably the world’s worst midge fisherman and have caught far fewer trout on midges than any other fly. I am guessing that presentation trumps pattern, given that we are talking about 20-26 size flies. But maybe I am off base with the pattern right off the bat.

What are some rules of thumb to help out a with the midge game? Go to patterns?

 

[TimMurphy]

I was on the Letort the other night (but this applies to almost any body of water) and an occasional rise was happening. Nothing apparent in the air for a hatch, so assuming they were after midges. Tied on a 26 Griffith gnat but no interest. Was really tough to get a good drift with the cress beds popping up through the water surface and grabbing line and leader.

I am probably the world’s worst midge fisherman and have caught far fewer trout on midges than any other fly. I am guessing that presentation trumps pattern, given that we are talking about 20-26 size flies. But maybe I am off base with the pattern right off the bat.

What are some rules of thumb to help out a with the midge game? Go to patterns?

Dear Letort,

Fish more when the crick is higher and muddy!

Seriously though, I've tied and caught fish on midges down to size 28, but I haven't bothered with that for years. I did it because I could, but at my age it would take me a month to tie on a size 28 fly.

Hopefully you get a better more serious answer and please don't think I was mocking you or making fun of you.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

 

[dryflyguy]

During the warmer months of the season, try a terrestrial in smaller sizes - 18 and 20
I’ve caught lots of midging fish on a #20 Crowe beetle
And if it gets a take, it’s well worth not having to play the midge game

 

[Mashbill]

Letort — I have this book - Midge Magic , that was written in 2001 by a guy from your area, with Ed Koch as co - author. I think Big Spring was his “laboratory” for his findings. It’s an insanely intensive study, with excellent photography. I think I bought it from Cold Spring Anglers … that shop that Herb & his wife Kathy ran from various locations in Carlisle. Mine is signed by both authors—- just noticed that again. If you can find it … I’d bet you’d enjoy adding it to your library.

Good luck

 

[troutbert]

Try terrestrials instead, such as deer hair ants, beetles, and small Letort crickets.

I think you'll catch more fish with terrestrials, and you can use heavier tippet than with midges.

 

[joebamboo]

Donnie was the man when it came to midges.

 

[Bamboozle]

Presentation trumps everything on the Letort...

When I come across a fussy riser there, the first thing I do is get down and watch...

...and watch some more until I see ANOTHER rise from the same fish.

If there is none, you most likely blew it...

If you get a refusal but the fish keeps rising, I make micro adjustments to my presentation, sometimes over other spots in the creek for practice until I get it right before casting to the fish.

I also catch more fish on midges fished a few inches below the surface than ON the surface and that includes at the Letort.

Another thing I learned, when the cress is popping out of the water, many times it is better cast OVER the cress into the water lanes. Don't try and cast in between the cress because you will most likely miss & put down the fish.

BTW - An extruded (non-knotted) leader is a HUGE help when fishing over the cress.

Also, you said "the other night." If you were fishing the Letort in the late afternoon/early evening seeing rises but not seeing flies, make sure you WEREN'T missing Little Black Caddis that are really hard to see fluttering an inch or so above the water.

I've also caught many fish on the Letort when nothing seemed to be hatching on a size 20 - 22 BWO, either a thorax tie or a parachute.

Finally, I always fish midges on 7X or 8X but never at the Letort because I am still spooked over a fish I broke off when I was too lazy to cut back to 7X tippet. To me 6X is a hindrance when fishing the REALLY small stuff (24 - 32) so a nice long supple 6X tippet that lands with slack is HUGE at the Letort.

 

[goose54cdd]

View attachment 1641236895View attachment 1641236896Letort — I have this book - Midge Magic , that was written in 2001 by a guy from your area, with Ed Koch as co - author. I think Big Spring was his “laboratory” for his findings. It’s an insanely intensive study, with excellent photography. I think I bought it from Cold Spring Anglers … that shop that Herb & his wife Kathy ran from various locations in Carlisle. Mine is signed by both authors—- just noticed that again. If you can find it … I’d bet you’d enjoy adding it to your library.

Good luck

That is an excellent book and I still enjoy fishing midges down to size 28 once in awhile. I noticed a warm, sunny day in the winter will sometimes spark a midge hatch the trout enjoy. I've had some success fishing some of those pupa patterns underneath, too.