Midges play a vital role in a trout's diet, making midge fishing a highly effective method for even the most selective trout. In this blog post, I'll discuss how to effectively fish midges on a Euro nymphing rig.
When Euro nymphing, getting your flies to the strike zone is crucial. Midge patterns are extremely tiny, ranging from size 18-22. To ensure your flies sink quickly to the strike zone, you have two options: 1. Use a midge pattern with a larger bead (such as a 2.4 mm bead), or 2. Add a split shot between your two midges when fishing a double midge rig.
I typically opt for the 1st option. My primary reason is that slightly heavier midges allow your flies to get down to the strike zone quickly and allow you to get a better drift with constant tension. I have found that adding a split shot between your two flies negatively affects the sensitivity of the rig. However, when the water is exceptionally clear, midges tied with a lighter bead can be tightline fished effectively without any additional weight, or they could be fished under a New Zealand wool indicator.
My love for midge fishing stems from it's remarkable effectiveness. It's astounding how readily trout will take a midge when they're feeding. I've had countless days where I've landed double-digit numbers of fish, and my personal best Rainbow trout was caught on a fly I created myself: The mottled midge, in a rusty brown color. It's become one of my go-to patterns that I sell in the shop.
I vividly remember the day I hooked that fish. The conditions were far from ideal - the water was exceptionally low and clear, with no significant rainfall for weeks, and the warm weather wasn't helping. Yet, despite these challenges, the trout were actively feeding on midges. Some were rising to tiny insects on the surface, while others were feeding just below.
With the water so clear, I could see every movement of the fish. I spotted three large rainbow trout, each around 20 to 23 inches long. I rigged up with a double midge setup on 6x tippet, using an olive mottled midge alongside the rusty brown one. I didn't add any additional weight due to the low flows.
After some patient casting, one of the larger trout emerged from under a tree and ate my midge. With a rush of excitement, I set the hook, and the fight was on. This fish put up an incredible battle, leaping and running multiple times, but eventually, I managed to tire it out with my 2 wt. rod.
That experience solidified my love for midge fishing and proved its effectiveness, even with the biggest trout. Some might question how such large fish could be enticed by such tiny insects, but it's similar to how elephants enjoy peanuts - sometimes, it's the smallest things that make the biggest impact in fishing.