Hi-Vis Parachute Midge Dry Fly #20

When Trout Get Picky

Calm water does this to trout. They get cautious, and a fly that looks even slightly off gets refused. Midges are usually the reason. They’re tiny, they hatch constantly, and trout key in on the exact silhouette riding the surface.

This fly imitates that adult stage, wings spent, body sitting flush in the film. It’s a year-round pattern. Midges hatch on cold tailwaters in January just as easily as they do on slow summer pools, and the same flush, low profile that fools a picky trout works on panfish and other small fish sipping the surface too.

Built So You Can Actually See It

The hardest part of fishing a size #20 fly isn’t getting a trout to eat it. It’s finding it on the water after the cast.

The white poly yarn post stands up above the surface, so you have a visual anchor even in foam lines or low light. The fish sees a flush, natural body in the film. You see a bright dot you can actually track.

Picking a Color

Natural Brown is the one to start with. It covers the olive and brown midges you’ll find on most rivers most days. Chartreuse Yellow earns its spot on bright days or when you’re seeing pale, sulfur-colored midges in the air. Carrying both covers the range without overthinking it.

How to Fish It

Dead drift on a long, light leader. Watch the post, not the body. On a #20 fly in a slow pool, a take can be nothing more than a soft dimple or a pause in the drift.

This pattern works well as a sighter fly too. Trail a small Zebra Midge 12 to 18 inches below it on 6X or 7X tippet, and watch the post for the take on the nymph as much as the dry.

If fish are working but refusing the adult profile, they may still be eating midges just under the surface. A CDC Midge Emerger covers that earlier stage, half in and half out of the film, when this fly comes up empty.

Common Questions

Is #20 too small to fish comfortably? It takes a little getting used to, but a wide hook gape and a sharp point make hooksets solid once you connect. Good eyes or readers help with the tie-on.

What tippet should I use? 6X or 7X. Anything heavier looks unnatural at this size and will cost you takes on calm water.

When should I use this instead of a Griffith’s Gnat? Use this when fish are keyed on single adult midges. A Griffith’s Gnat is the better call when you see a cluster of midges bunched together on the surface.

Does it need floatant? A small amount on the post and hackle helps it ride a touch higher, but it’s not required to fish well.

Specs