FLY FISHING LAKES WITH CHIRONOMIDS
Midges (chironomids) are some of the most abundant food for trout, particularly in still waters. What they lack in size they more than make up for in numbers. After ice out in the spring, but before the mayflies and caddis become active, midges are the main food source for trout.
The most recognized chironomid is the mosquito. We are familiar with the rapid growth and quick gestation period of this pesky critter. A generation can be measured in days or weeks. This is typical of this entire family of bugs. Their small size and incredible numbers assure that the trout feed many times per day on these hor d'oeuvres rather than seeking one sitting of meat and potatoes.
Chironomids live on the bottom and migrate to the surface to hatch. A very common way to fish the imitation on still waters is to suspend a pupa beneath an indicator and let the wind chop provide the action. If you have the depth "dialed in" you can be quite successful.
Trout tend to be specific to the depth at which they feed. If your presentation is not in this zone, you will not get bit. A better searching system is to fish the pupa "rising to the surface". This can be done with a floating line and long ( 10¹-16¹) leader. An intermediate sinking line is a better choice if available. Be sure fly floatant is off of the leader to ensure sinking. Wet clay rubbed on leader will help it break through the surface film. Fluorocarbon leaders and tippet material are heavier than water and sink rapidly. Bead heads are not needed to sink the fly to the length of the leader on still waters.
Once your system is totally wet lay out your leader and fly on the water close to you and count how long it takes for the fly to sink to the desired depth ( one thousand one...one thousand two...etc.). Place rod tip in the water and retrieve the fly to determine how many of what kind of pulls bring the fly to the surface.
Real pupa move from the bottom to the top and that is how you want to fish the imitation. I recommend that you look at mosquito larva in a bucket of water sometime to get an idea of what some of these bugs do under water. I have yet to see the fly that can mimic the wiggling action of the real thing but we can get closer by using a non tightening knot to attach the pupa pattern. Use a Duncan Loop or a Uni-knot.
Latest Articles