Midges:
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| Fly Fishing the Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
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Midges are probably the most overlooked
aquatic insect that trout feed on in the park. One
reason is that most anglers hate fooling with
the tiny imitations. They are forced to do it in
many of the nearby tailwaters, but some
anglers, refuse to fish them even there. There
are some tricks to fishing the tiny little flies both
from a tying them on the tippet to presenting
them to the trout.
aquatic insect that trout feed on in the park. One
reason is that most anglers hate fooling with
the tiny imitations. They are forced to do it in
many of the nearby tailwaters, but some
anglers, refuse to fish them even there. There
are some tricks to fishing the tiny little flies both
from a tying them on the tippet to presenting
them to the trout.
Most anglers dislike midge imitations simply
because they are small. Almost invisible flies,
ultra-light tippets and fish you can't see drive
anglers crazy. Because they can't see them well,
they tend to think the trout can't either. When they
do fish them, they also think the particular fly
pattern is not important.
Compared to many types of streams such as
tailwaters and spring creeks, midges are not as
plentiful in the park's freestone streams.
Chironomidae midge larvae stay down in their
burrows in soft soil and much of the substrate of
the streams in the Smokies is rock. That said,
there is still a tremendous amount of midges in
the streams. They are mostly in the tailouts of
pools and back eddies.
Midges come in as many sizes and colors as any
other aquatic insect. The best way to determine
what color and sizes the midge larvae, pupae
and adults are is to catch and observe them. That
is not permitted in the Smokies, so you need to
be prepared with several colors and sizes of
them. The most important stage of the midge is
the pupa. For most of their life the larvae stay
hidden down in their burrows. When they change
to the pupa stage of life, they are completely
helpless and can easily be eaten by trout.
Usually, the trout will just remain in one place
and eat all they want to eat while the helpless
midge pupae are trying to get to the surface to
hatch. It is rare they will eat the full grown adults
from the surface because there is no reason to
do so. Occasionally, during huge hatches,
clusters of midges will congregate and the trout
will eat them several at a time. That is what the
Griffith Knat was designed for. It may occur in the
park but we have not seen it. For that reason, I
suggest you only use a midge larva or pupa
imitation. You may prefer to drop the pupa or
larva down from a dry fly and you may even prefer
to use a Griffin Knat or some other adult midge
pattern for that. Others may prefer to use a strike
indicator.
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
because they are small. Almost invisible flies,
ultra-light tippets and fish you can't see drive
anglers crazy. Because they can't see them well,
they tend to think the trout can't either. When they
do fish them, they also think the particular fly
pattern is not important.
Compared to many types of streams such as
tailwaters and spring creeks, midges are not as
plentiful in the park's freestone streams.
Chironomidae midge larvae stay down in their
burrows in soft soil and much of the substrate of
the streams in the Smokies is rock. That said,
there is still a tremendous amount of midges in
the streams. They are mostly in the tailouts of
pools and back eddies.
Midges come in as many sizes and colors as any
other aquatic insect. The best way to determine
what color and sizes the midge larvae, pupae
and adults are is to catch and observe them. That
is not permitted in the Smokies, so you need to
be prepared with several colors and sizes of
them. The most important stage of the midge is
the pupa. For most of their life the larvae stay
hidden down in their burrows. When they change
to the pupa stage of life, they are completely
helpless and can easily be eaten by trout.
Usually, the trout will just remain in one place
and eat all they want to eat while the helpless
midge pupae are trying to get to the surface to
hatch. It is rare they will eat the full grown adults
from the surface because there is no reason to
do so. Occasionally, during huge hatches,
clusters of midges will congregate and the trout
will eat them several at a time. That is what the
Griffith Knat was designed for. It may occur in the
park but we have not seen it. For that reason, I
suggest you only use a midge larva or pupa
imitation. You may prefer to drop the pupa or
larva down from a dry fly and you may even prefer
to use a Griffin Knat or some other adult midge
pattern for that. Others may prefer to use a strike
indicator.
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
This midge larva came from the
Little River. It is a weird color,
almost clear with dark brown
insides.
Little River. It is a weird color,
almost clear with dark brown
insides.
Site Map (Click on Links)
Abrams Creek Fishing Methods Marine Food Species
Anthony Creek Forney Creek Mayflies Spring
Big Creek Freestone Streams Midges Stoneflies
Beginners Recommended Gear Misc N.C. Streams Straight Creek
Caddisflies Hatches Misc Tenn. Streams Streams
Casting Hazel Creek Middle Prong Little Pigeon River Summer Season
Cataloochee Creek Headwater Stream Middle Prong Little River Terrestrials
Cosby Creek Caddisfly Imitations Noland Creek Twenty Mile Creek
Deep Creek Mayfly Imitations Oconaluftee River Wild Trout
Midge Imitations Other Aquatic Insects Winter Season
Eagel Creek Home PH West Prong Little Pigeon River
East Prong Little River Stonefly Imitations Presentation West Prong Little River
Fall Season Streamers Raven Fork Spring Hatch Chart
About Us Terrestrial Imitations Reading Hatch Charts Summer Hatch Chart
Recommended Flies Links Seasons Winter Hatch Chart
Fall Hatch Chart
Abrams Creek Fishing Methods Marine Food Species
Anthony Creek Forney Creek Mayflies Spring
Big Creek Freestone Streams Midges Stoneflies
Beginners Recommended Gear Misc N.C. Streams Straight Creek
Caddisflies Hatches Misc Tenn. Streams Streams
Casting Hazel Creek Middle Prong Little Pigeon River Summer Season
Cataloochee Creek Headwater Stream Middle Prong Little River Terrestrials
Cosby Creek Caddisfly Imitations Noland Creek Twenty Mile Creek
Deep Creek Mayfly Imitations Oconaluftee River Wild Trout
Midge Imitations Other Aquatic Insects Winter Season
Eagel Creek Home PH West Prong Little Pigeon River
East Prong Little River Stonefly Imitations Presentation West Prong Little River
Fall Season Streamers Raven Fork Spring Hatch Chart
About Us Terrestrial Imitations Reading Hatch Charts Summer Hatch Chart
Recommended Flies Links Seasons Winter Hatch Chart
Fall Hatch Chart
