Fishing Midge Nymphs.... Need some help!

[nrp5087]

Okay so I realize that midges are a year round food source for all types of trout... However I enjoy fishing streamers alot so the very small nymphs make me skeptical. Never the less I have given midges (size 18-20) a chance and each time I cannot catch a fish or even get a strike . I have two midges in tandem hanging under a thingamabobber.

I fish on streams not lakes

Does anyone have any advise for me I really want to become proficient at midge fishing and dont want to give up on the stuff please help!

[Kerry Pitt]

I have a great book I could lend you. It is by Ed Koch, as long as you don't mond mailing it back when you are done I could send it to you.

[kayo]

add split shot so the nymph swims just above the bottom, get it DOWN.

[nrp5087]

That would be great actually! Ill Pm you with my address

---------- Post added at 10:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:32 PM ----------

Does it cost alot more to send something into Canada?

[williamhj]

Weight would be my guess too. Even with heavier nymphs I'm often surprised how much I can underestimate the depth of the fly. Most of the time if I'm not ticking bottom I'm not deep enough. It's hard to know for sure though, there are a lot of factors. Accepting the book offer might be a good idea.

[jaybo41]

When I fish midges under the surface, I don't fish them much different than I do any other nymph. When flies aren't working for me, I keep rotating through and find one that does work. This of course assuming I've got enough shot and the right depth for the indy. You might try some of the indicator putty from Airflo if you can find it and skip the indicator, or try a more subdued color. My favorites are white or glow in the dark.

A few questions to ask:

How much tippet do you have between the two flies?

How much shot are you using and where is the placement of the shot? Are you sure you're hitting bottom?

How long is your leader?

If you switched to other nymphs are you having any luck and do you know that you're in a location that holds fish?

[nrp5087]

Originally Posted by jaybo41

When I fish midges under the surface, I don't fish them much different than I do any other nymph. When flies aren't working for me, I keep rotating through and find one that does work. This of course assuming I've got enough shot and the right depth for the indy. You might try some of the indicator putty from Airflo if you can find it and skip the indicator, or try a more subdued color. My favorites are white or glow in the dark.

A few questions to ask:

How much tippet do you have between the two flies?

How much shot are you using and where is the placement of the shot? Are you sure you're hitting bottom?

How long is your leader?

If you switched to other nymphs are you having any luck and do you know that you're in a location that holds fish?

1) about 2 feet of tippet between the flies
2) not sure the weight or # of the shot. I usually use tungsten heads on the flies but the shot was above the highest fly and I was catching bottom
3) the leader was about 12-13 foot didnt measure it out

[chased]

During winter I use a lot of midges in small creeks. Most of the time I only use a single fly rig since I am usually using my little 3wt glass rod. I set it up just like I do an indicator rig. For me, this means: Fly line > 5-6ft furled leader > indicator on end of leader > 2-3ft 6x or smaller tippet > fly. For weight, these midges have a single brass bead. I don't like the fly to be so heavy that it constantly gets snagged on the stream bottom. I like to stand downstream and cast up stream, allowing the midge/nymph to dead drift back to me. Seems to catch fish every single time I use it, and normally, a lot of them. A #18-22 red brassie type midge is what has been producing best for me this winter.

If I'm in a lake using midges, I get rid of the indicator and slowly strip it in or twitch it. Lots of strike seem to be right when I am pulling up getting ready to make another cast.

-Chase

[only adipose]

keep at it.... make sure drifts are drag-less and most importantly believe that it will work! Remember you are fishing for fish that are not going to move, you are literary trying to drift it into there mouth...... it will happen and you will be surprised how effective it is.

[nrp5087]

I will continue my work with ze midge... What is a good pattern? Im partial to the brassie