CDC Midge Emerger Dry Fly

When Trout Are Sipping and Nothing Else Is Working

You know the scene. Fish are rising steadily, but every fly you throw gets ignored. Most of the time, they’re locked onto midges caught halfway between the water and the air, hanging in the surface film instead of sitting on top of it. This fly is built to match that exact moment.

Why CDC Makes the Difference

The wing is tied with genuine CDC feathers, the small feathers found near a duck’s preen gland. CDC carries natural preen oil, which makes it water-repellent without any treatment. It doesn’t need floatant and it doesn’t waterlog after a few casts. It just sits in the film the way a real midge does.

The body hangs below the film while the CDC wing stays above it. That’s the emerger posture: half in, half out, which is the position a midge is in right as it’s working its way out of the pupal shuck. It’s a different look from a standard dry fly that floats flush on top.

How and When to Fish It

Midges hatch on most tailwaters year-round, but this fly does its best work from late April through September. Fish it on flat water, slow runs, lake edges, and any seam where you’re seeing quiet, dimpling rises rather than splashy ones.

Dead drift it on 5X to 6X nylon tippet. CDC is delicate, so go easy on your casting. Hard false-casting can damage the fibers over time. A soft single roll cast is usually all you need to get it out there.

Color choice: Brown is the most versatile and works in most light conditions. Yellow leans toward lighter hatches like PMDs and tends to get more use late morning into early afternoon. Wine Red runs darker and is a good call on overcast days or in water with a bit of color, where a deeper hue stands out better. Carry all three if you can. Most midge anglers switch colors through the day based on what they’re actually seeing on the water.

Common Questions

Do I need floatant? No, and you shouldn’t use it. CDC’s natural preen oil handles the floating on its own. Silicone-based floatant can clog the fibers and ruin the float. If the fly gets waterlogged, blow on it or false cast once to dry it out. A powder desiccant works too.

What’s the difference between this and a standard dry fly? A standard dry fly sits flush on top of the water. This one hangs in the film, body below, wing above. That’s the posture of a midge mid-hatch, which is a different look than a fly sitting fully on the surface.

Which color should I start with? Brown if you’re only buying one. Switch to Wine Red on tailwaters with known chironomid activity, or Yellow if you’re seeing pale duns in the air.

What tippet should I use? 5X to 6X nylon. Nylon floats and lets the fly hang correctly in the film. Fluorocarbon sinks and pulls the fly under, which ruins the presentation. Drop to 6X on flat, clear, pressured water.

Specs