Zebra Midge Nymph

The Fly You Tie On When the Surface Goes Quiet.

Midge hatches end and fish stop rising, but they don’t stop eating. They just go back to feeding underwater on midge larvae and pupae drifting through the current. The Zebra Midge is one of the most consistent patterns for this exact situation, simple, slim, and almost always in a serious trout angler’s box.

Built to Get Down and Stay Simple

The weighted brass bead pulls the fly down fast without needing split shot. The body is just thread wrapped with fine wire ribbing, nothing more, which is exactly the slim, segmented look that matches a real midge larva or pupa. The wire also reinforces the body so it holds up after a few fish instead of unraveling.

How and Where to Fish It

Midges are active on most tailwaters and spring creeks nearly year-round, with the heaviest activity from late April through September. Fish this in slow runs, eddies, reservoir bays, and seams just below riffles. The weight makes it a solid point fly on a euro nymph rig, or fish it as a dropper under a strike indicator on stillwater.

Color choice: Black works well in clear water and bright conditions. Red shows up better in low light, dawn and dusk, or water with a bit of color. Many anglers carry both and switch depending on the day.

Common Questions

Does it need floatant? No. This is a subsurface pattern. Fish it under an indicator or as a dropper, not on the surface.

Black or Red, which first? Black for clear water. Red for stained water or low light. If you’re not sure, carry both since conditions change through the day.

What tippet should I use with a #18? 5X or 6X fluorocarbon is standard. Drop to 6X in clear, pressured water where fish get leader-shy.

Specs