san juan midge patterns
From the Florida Keys to the Bahamas to Hawaii, bonefish are an iconic inshore species with many monikers and a presence that is often felt but rarely seen. With its segmented body, flashabou wings, and peacock hurl head, it is sure to draw some fire the next time you hit the water. Adding a foot to the depth can mean success. An effective springtime pattern here on the Bighorn, the Root Beer Midge is a go-to pattern when midge pupae are ascending to the surface. It has a purple tungsten bead head, a green, flashabou-segmented, body. So, if youre looking to improve your fish-catching odds, and you arent afraid of questions like, why so small?, then this post is for you. San Juan Worm "Micro" - Fire Red. Midge larvae. Root Beer Midge(sizes 18 & 20) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mcflytier/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcflyangler/Twitter: https://twitter.com/McFlyAngler Special Thanks to my Supporters! But, just so Im sure you get the right one, here is a link to buy one on DiscountFlies. We feel the effectiveness of this pattern has to do with the varying color tones in the pattern and the translucency of the red tubing over the black thread. Made famous on the San Juan River, Juan Ramirez shows us how to tie the KF Midge Emerger which works just about anywhere you find midges, which is just about everywhere. Frank Smethurst Fly Tying Video | San Juan Midge Pattern - YouTube Frank smethurst tying one of his go-to midge patterns from his day's on the San Juan. How to Tie a Black Midge Pupa Fly Pattern. - YouTube This has become a reliable pattern for many tailwater guides because it is not only effective, but its easy to see, as well. This really disrupts the fishing and clouds the water. Thread: Veevus 16/0 in Black When midges begin to emerge, their budding wings become prominent, and they sometimes carry gas bubbles that trigger trout to feed. And second of all, yes! Wait until the trout closes its mouth around your fly, and set the hook quickly and delicately. Our years of parking-lot networkingwith fly boxes flung openwere enjoyable but didnt seem the best way to share the combined knowledge of midge fishing. With nine public access points and campgrounds in the tailwater area, you wont struggle with finding a spot to cast a fly. The flash collar attracts fish, and also acts like a wing case. Again, think small, size-22 BWO and size-24 Griffiths gnats. The Red Hot pattern is a simple but highly productive pattern on the San Juan River. This section is tough to get to if your hiking in. This fly, as funny as it looks, makes fish go crazy. Landon Mayer | Illustrations by Joe Mahler. It fishes well when tied in both olive and black. My friend Rick Takahashi ties a fly biot midge that is simply sinister to trout, and I swipe as many as I can out of his fly box when he is not looking. Bling Midge - Duranglers Fly Fishing Shop & Guides Deal with it. But in most of these fertile, dam-released rivers, the vast majority of the aquatic insect population is made up of "midges" - tiny two-winged flies of the order Diptera, of which there are more than 100 species in North America. Most of the time, trout feed on midge larvae near the bottom, so you need a nymph rig that delivers the fly to the fish effectively. PATTERNS. Havent met him, but hes a Colorado fly fishing guide for Anglers Covey and fly tying instructor for both Ghillies Fly Shop and Anglers Covey. Flash: Pearl Flashabou A Griffith's Gnat will take some fish, but the right single adult midge patternwith the proper presentation - will catch every fish. I will be heading out there pretty soon. Trust that the weather isnt going to kill a trip because of flow conditions. A high-visibility orange post and CDC makes this small dry perfect for your 7X tippet. Link to New Mexico Fishing Map https://nmdgf.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=4af365eb03524e229de3eaf815fd56ca. The Foundation Setup will to step up and deliver. Rainbow Lodge provides the guides, meals and rooms for a perfect San Juan River getaway. There really picky maybe the rio around south fork but the midge thing as come a long way any pictures would really help there 22-24 are common. Ive said it a bunch of times in this article. Because, if you ever find yourself standing in a river and see a bunch of emergers floating across the surface with their shuck still attached, youre going to look back on reading this article and regret not taking my advice. Read my review Here and watch my on-water review of the Foundation HERE ON YOUTUBE. He looked at me and said, Here, try this. It was a beautiful moment. You can get this midge in all sorts of color variations, but the most common are probably red, black and grey. Tiny 18 to 24 midge patterns are the ticket. Ive got a FREE video workshop teaching how to dry fly fish at this link How 2 Fly Fish, Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | About | Contact | The Team | Advertise with Guide Recommended, Disclosure: "This site is owned and operated by River Traditions LLC, a limited liability company headquartered in Michigan, USA. 5. Support the Global FlyFisher through several different channels, including PayPal. Do I mean a dozen of each, or a dozen combined? San Juan River Fly Patterns | San Juan River Flies | Shelby ", https://www.usbr.gov/uc/water/crsp/cs/nvd.html. When fish get picky and refuse to take anything else you throw at them, the Transitional Midge can be a game changer. I didnt see folks fighting, but any time you have trout stacked up like they are in the Texas Hole youll have some tension. Fisheads can provide fly patterns of the San Juan River when you arrive. Fish as a dropper under a dry to imitate emerging midges. In the span of an hour, I saw over 40 boats dropped in.. And if youve never seen one before, dont be afraid to grab it and take a closer look. Copyright 2023 DIY Fly Fishing, all rights reserved. Skip to content. 7. I caught a bunch of brown trout and lost a trophy in the mid-20-inch area easy. If your cast turned over correctly, your fly should be about 12 inches beyond the visible portion of your tippet. Black Beauty - Black - Sz 22-26. . Ah the wonder of Krystal Flash, how did we get by without it? Imitating a midge, a CDC Midge Pupa emerger is one of the most popular types available. Dark or light gray, brown and olive have been the best colors in a size 20 and 22. Bryen Venema is thefly-shop manager and a guide at the Bighorn Angler in Fort Smith, Montana. This pattern is often fished alone, but can be used trailing behind a point fly. Stop by the shop for more information and to resupply. On my last trip to the San Juan, I found that a double nymph rig was a great way to fish this pattern. In addition to co-founding Fly Fishing Fix with his father, Matt, Zach also runs a personal finance blog called Be The Budget. The Silver Shadow. Give a Gift if a little picture of the patterns were included. Leeches, Larva's, emergers and midge clusters are all working. When a hatch really gets going, trout suspend in the water column, sometimes just inches under the surface, and gorge on emerging pupae. The loop knot allows your bottom fly to move more freely in the current regardless of tippet diameter or stiffness. I agree it is a great list of flies, but half of the links do not work. Felt boots and a wading staff are a must. You can get in touch with Juan through his blog The Hopper Juan. Fish are active feeding on midge and other insects including mayflies, caddis, scuds, annelids and terrestrials depending on what part of the river you are in. Either way, your shopping cart will be active until you leave the store. A blend of feathers and dubbing, it's very streamlined. Great list of flies but several of the links are dead. All Rights Reserved. But where I fish nowon tough, technical tailwater trout fisheries like the San Juan, Green, and Frying Pan Rivers - big flies catch mostly stupid little trout. Lighter weights reduce this effect, so I recommend using as little weight as possible for the water type. Think long and slender for midge larvae, short and squat for midge pupae. Black, olive or cream have been best. Simply add a tungsten bead, and they can be an effective dry-dropper pattern. If you are sight-fishing, you'll notice the fish are more active. The lion may be the king of the jungle, but the Zebra is the king of the midges. Heavy weight gets your flies down to fish in fast water but can also act like an anchor, creating undetectable subsurface drag. When you reach that point, you've become more than just a confused bystander hoping to get lucky. Spring flows can also bring a little discolored water to the San Juan caused by silt flowing into the lake or by lake turnover. Vast deserts and desolate mountains dominate most of the landscape. Hi Joel, this post is two and a half years old. On the Colorado River at Lees Ferry, the Beadhead Zebra Midge is the ticket, especially out in deeper water. I valued worth articles no matter the moment they were done, but do you realize that the most links do not work anymore? The nymph fishing has been best. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. The pupa's thick thorax contains the adult's developing wings. It's important to pay attention to where the fish are feeding, and if the fish are "up" on midges, you'll have to drastically reduce your leader length. Look for the BOR parking and access signs along 511, youll scramble down an embankment on a switchback then hike a half mile through a wetlands area to the river. The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly. Deep nymph fishing is best from a boat. Barr Emerger . Ill get working on those right away. Chuck's Emerger. The Parachute Adams is the perfect dry fly for the South Platte River. Fall is a favorite fishing time for many fishermen and fisherwomen. The entire area is BLM land and is open for public use. As with most aquatic insects, midges have several life stages that both fly fishers and trout recognize: larva, pupa, and adult; plus two transitional phases, emerger and cluster. I hope you guys realize that many if not most of the pattern links in this article have expired! 10. The river is running at 500cfs, to meet demands for water downstream of the dam. 10,420 views Feb 24, 2015 This is a little black midge pupa nymph that is great for fly fishing tailwaters like the Green and San Juan River but. This fly keeps getting sold out at my work. This is one of the most widely used patterns on tailwaters, considering that midges are present 12 months out of the year. The midges are clustering so try fishing a cluster to a single dry midge. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. A beautifully colored San Juan . In particular, if you plan on fishing any section of the South Platte, you should keep a few of these things at the ready. Try fishing BWOs from 1:00pm to about 5:00pm. Circle of life. Glass Bead Disco Midge - Blue. If a size 20 is the smallest nymph in your fly box, dont even go here. To fish the San Juan effectively during the winter you may need to fish differently than you do in other seasons, but by adapting to the conditions you can be successful. Here is a list of materials I used on the fly, and links to where you can purchase them.Hook: Umpqua U203 in size 20 - http://amzn.to/2xJlSpeRed Thread: UTC Ultra Thread 70 - http://www.jsflyfishing.com/wapsi-ultra-thread-70-denierBlack Thread: Danville's fly master 6/0 - http://www.jsflyfishing.com/danville-unwaxed-6-0-flymaster-threadRibbing: Midge sized D-Rib in Red - https://www.allseasonssports.com/product-p/vr-.htmFinishing Resin - Solarez \"Bone Dry\" UV curing resin - http://solarez.com/products/fly-tie-ultra-thin-bone-dry/ My Shirts! CDC Transitional Midge (sizes 18 & 20) Rim Chung's RS2 pattern was developed for finicky South Platte trout and has been widely adapted on the San Juan and elsewhere. If he doesnt get you in his boat, hes got a long list of excellent guides to set you up. Today I received this article from Orvis team published February 22, 2017 made 4 years ago It may be small and green, but it has magic powers that could change your life. Fall is a favorite fishing time for many fishermen and fisherwomen. Going to the San Juan come June. You can catch fish on midge patterns, dry flies, annelids, eggs and streamer patterns. Kasey Marsters @ FoxTrick Flies You'll begin to see adult midges on the surface of the water and rocks along the shore. Most successful anglers use 6X tippet or smaller. Sorry about that. He believes far too many fishermen string their rods at the parking lot and cast the same nymph rigs all day long. Location. That's fine if you are out for the fresh air, but if you want to make every cast count, you must alter your leader to suit specific water depths. Hook: TMC 101 size 22 Public K-8 Schools. However, when I put fluorocarbon in water, I can still see it, and since it's stiffer than mono, I'm convinced it's more likely to impede the natural action of my fly. This dry fly can be tied to match any mayfly. It would be great if you could fix that. Some streams and stillwaters contain huge midge numbers, and trout in these environments feed on them almost exclusively. I really love Orvis way of doing everything, and this is absolutelly out of your standard. Our Orvis endorsed Fly Shop is well stocked to get you on the river and catching some San Juan River trout. Youve got to fish tiny flies, I know this might be new to you and it might be difficult, but these trout are eating tiny bugs. An injury and what seemed like the end of a career paved the way for a new passion. As a lifelong fly fisherman, I can tell you that the San Juan River is a true gem, and in this article, Ill take you on a tour of the best spots to wet a line. The Renegade is a timeless pattern that still works incredibly well on many tailwater rivers during the midge hatch. Weight.004 lbs: Dimensions.2 .08 .01 in: Reviews . Dont let all the drift boats let you think youve got to float this river. 5 Serger Thread Tips Selecting Thread Color | Sewing Mastery HOOK: #8-16 Mustad C49S.THREAD: Olive 8/0.RIB: Fine copper, silver, or gold wire.BODY: Stillwater Solutions Midge Braid (olive).WINGCASE: Mylar peacock/orange.THORAX: Tying thread.GILLS: Stillwater Solutions Midge Gill. HOOK: #10-14 Mustad C53S or Tiemco 2302.THREAD: Red 8/0 Uni-Thread.RIB: Small silver Ultra Wire.UNDERBODY: Bright green Flashabou.OVERBODY: Red Midge Stretch Floss. Ive never seen so many drift boats launched as quickly as on the San Juan. But as we gained experience on the Frying Pan, San Juan, and other Rocky Mountain tailwaters, we became immersed in all aspects of midge fishing. This is one of the most widely used patterns on tailwaters, considering that midges are present 12 months out of the year. Whether you are fishing the Bighorn, the Missouri, or a tailwater elsewhere in the country, midges are among the most important hatches. I fish two flies and always position the top fly above the weight so I have direct contact with at least one fly. Take A Break From Those Boring Work Emails, Its our firm belief that life is better when youre casting a fly rod. Spring is a great time to fish the San Juan. Junior: Choices Charter school is an excellent school because it allows students to focus on education instead of being distracted. As spring progresses, fish move out of their winter holds actively feeding on midges and other insects. Fixed the links, folks. Zebra Midge: A Small But Mighty Fly Pattern, 10 Fly Fishing Accessories Every Angler Should Own, Your email address will not be published. Since 1856. And it, Most people dont immediately think of fly fishing when the Southwest United States is brought up in conversation. Good to hear that the setup works Innes books on salmon flies and salmon fishing, Salmon fishing in Iceland, where to start, The Monster Brown Trout of Thingvallavatn. Fishing Small Flies on the San Juan - Shawn McQuade Bull's-eye casts are what separate expert midge fishermen from the tourists on tough tailwaters. Well there's not too much more to say about this great midge emerger pattern, other than tie a bunch up - they only take a few minutes, and get . You need to make sure the pattern is actually a Root Beer Midge. When red midge larvae are present in high numbers after a stomach sample, this is a go-to pattern for many tailwater guides. The hatch is best on cloudy days. In the upper stretches of the river, standard San Juan midge patterns like mono-midges, blings, zebras, and crystal flash in sizes 24 to 26 have been the most productive. Oh, and if you ever see some Blue-winged Olives coming off the water, dont be afraid to throw one of these bad boys on. You can tie them with various beads on the front to add appeal and/or weight. Read , Im not sure if any fish is more beautiful than a brook trout. You will notice as you browse our selection that the majority of our inventory consists of midges and nymphs. Hike up river a little ways to cross, the current is strong, but its not so deep you cant make it. The guides often have varieties of these fly patterns of the San Juan River in the fly box they take out every day. Devised by Taylor Williams in Wyoming in the late 1920s, this fly is still popular among tailwater-trout anglers today, and for good reason. In a two-fly rig, your flies should be connected eye to eye with a piece of 12- to 18-inch tippet. Youve got to think about your nymph getting down to the trout and if possible tapping them on the nose. Check out the full of story of Sage Indendi Johnson's journey from a path towards professional basketball to guiding in Alaska. Is that why its designer named it the Manhattan Midge? Putty, stick-on foam indicators, or loose yarn tied on with a slip knot are fine for static fishing, but can be frustrating nuisances when you move your indicator thirty times a day or more. If so, you should subscribe to our newsletter right now! Sithi hu ngonyama. The Lion King. If the Zebra Midge isnt quite flashy enough for your liking, then you should consider buying a few Crystal Midges. Disco Midge Fly Tying Instructions - Great San Juan River Midge Emerger 4. Are you ready to up your casting game? On smaller rivers like the San Juan, Frying Pan, and South Platte, a shorter, 3- or 4-weight is adequate most of the time. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Your email address will not be published. Where to Fly Fish on the San Juan River, New Mexico (Maps, Flies and HOOK: #18-24 Tiemco 2457.BEAD: Black size 15 Japanese seed bead.THREAD: White 8/0 Uni-Thread.BODY: Latex colored with olive Chartpak marker.WING PADS: Rust goose biot.COLLAR: Peacock Ice Dub. I purchased a fly rod kit from Epic Fly Rods and built mine. Easy to tie, easy to follow on the water and a perfect choice when the fish are picky. Click Here Google Map for Fly Fishing the San Juan River. 33 Road 4279 (PO Box 6442) Navajo Dam, NM 87419. ThanksI concur bout the picturesplease provide a collection so we can purchase some. With its clear water, diverse environments, and abundant fish populations, the San Juan River is a must-visit destination for the passionate fly fisherman. Andy Yong Kim - a guide on the San Juan Riveris one of these trout hunters. Adding a trailing shuck to this pattern works well for imitating emerging blue-winged olives. Watch and wade with us as we chase bonefish on the sand flats of the Bahamas and tag them on the grass flats of the Keys. If you are fortunate to be on the river during the "ant hatch", you could experience phenomenal dry fly fishing for large trout using ant patterns. San Juan River has been consistent - THE SAN JUAN ANGLER I remember when she caught that fish. Like most great guides James books up a year in advance, so dont delay. Is it possible to repost this with a photo of the flies? Many people are fooled when they see this behavior and switch to a dry fly too early in the game. They may enjoy some success during parts of the day, but they would catch more fish if they modified their tactics as conditions changed. Keep up the good work you guys. Suppose you don't tie your own flies, no worries. Spreading the weight along the leader also reduces the "anchor" effect. San Juan Choices Charter School. Ill never forget it. While I am tying this very small, it doesn't have to be tied this small only. You need to know what fly to use, and when to use it. If the hatch is just getting under way, these trout are almost always taking midge pupae just under the surface. Like its predecessor the Griffiths Gnat, the Twilight Midge is much friendlier to the eyes once it lands on the water. When will applications for continuing and priority enrollment be accepted? I recommend a moveable yarn indicator or a small cork or foam indicator held in place with a toothpick. Texas Midge - Top Annelid Pattern for the San Juan River! - McFly Johnny Gomez's Johnny Flash has the profile of the WD-40 and the emerging wing of the RS2. Fall fishing continues the regular fishing patterns of summer with fish feeding aggressively on midges, annelids, scuds, terrestrials and mayflies. Bridges After-School Program Continuing and Priority Enrollment . Sometimes you'll tear up the river on a #20 red larva imitation, and then suddenly the fish switch to dark brown #24 pupa. Krystal Flash Emerger - Black, Chocolate - Sz 20-24. You become an understanding participant in a complex ecosystem, and I guarantee you'll have more fun. Read . 2. Fisheads also can sell NM State Fishing Licenses. Big Mac - Black, Olive, Tan, Chocolate - Sz 22. I think you know what Im going to say. The San Juan Angler . These emerging pupae get stuck in or just below the surface film and are highly vulnerable to trout. We love Mary in Charlotte !! Yes, youll get the best shot at catching 50-plus fish in a from a drift boat, but lots of areas are available to the wade angler. You will notice as you browse our selection that the majority of our inventory consists of midges and nymphs. You can support the Global FlyFisher directly here, if you feel like it. You can do this by moving your strike indicator down the leader toward the fly or by removing the indicator altogether and greasing your leader down to within 12 to 18 inches of the fly. 10 Best Midge Patterns For Trout - Fly Fishing Fix Id be happy to tie up each of the patterns, provide high quality macro pictures and list the ingredients if yall would give photo credit? Summer is the busiest time of year. [Video] How to Tie a CDC Sulpur Dun Dry Fly, [Video] Hair Stackers, Scissors and Prepping Bulk Fly Tying Materials, [Video] October Caddis Pupa by Rich Strolis, [Video] How to Tie a Grey Ghost Fly Pattern. Our San Juan River Flies are hand tied with pride here in the U.S.A. with top of the line Daiichi, Gamakatsu and Maruto hooks. There are no reviews yet. When we started fishing together on the South Platte River near Deckers, Colorado, we never thought that the tiny but abundant midge was going to become such an important part of our fly-fishing lives. A few burly sets of Perfect Rubber legs, a bit of soft hackle, a pinch or two of dubbing and you have a bug that brings a smile to your face. Bead Head "Serendipity Style" WD40 - Olive. As a general rule, I use the larger fly as the point fly, and separate the flies with 12 to 14 inches of tippet.