Talk & Tie-Old School Chironomids

It's mid-May and on many stillwaters, chironomid emergences are in full swing.
Traditional, "old school" chironomids are always welcome in my fly box. They serve as a great alternative when fish seem shy and wary of some of the new patterns in use today.
This live presentation first debuted on Thursday, May 13, 2021. I demonstrated how I tie some of my old school chironomid patterns that still work as well today as they did when they were first created.
Pattern Recipes
Bronzie:
Hook: Daiichi 1530 #10-#14
Thread: Brown (bit.ly/2S4ePpY)
Body: V-Rib, Midge, Brown (bit.ly/3hyPUFE)
Underbody: Flashabou, Copper #6906 (bit.ly/3ykvo1s)
Wingcase: Natural Pheasant Tail or Pheasant Rump Fibers (bit.ly/3byHGJO)
Thorax: Peacock Herl (bit.ly/33UEjc8)
Gills: Ostrich Herl White (bit.ly/3bAUCz1)
Green Back Pheasant
Hook: Daiichi 1120 #10-#14 (www.canadianll...)
Thread: Olive (bit.ly/2S4ePpY)
Rib: Ultra Wire, Gold (www.flyfishfoo...)
Body: Pheasant Tail, Dyed Light Olive (bit.ly/3byHGJO)
Shellback: Holographic Mylar, Green (bit.ly/3f2em0N)
Thorax: Peacock Herl (bit.ly/33UEjc8)
Bead: Gold (www.canadianll...)
Gills: Uni-Floss or Glo Brite Floss, White (bit.ly/2RYpnqF)
Collaborator
Hook: Daiichi 1120 #10-#14 (www.canadianll...)
Thread: Burnt Orange (bit.ly/2S4ePpY)
Rib: Ultra Wire, Gold (www.flyfishfoo...)
Butt: Holographic Mylar, Red (bit.ly/3f2em0N)
Body: Frostbite, Summer Duck #61 (bit.ly/3wkEFVH) or Buzzer Wrap, Rootbeer
Thorax: Peacock Herl (bit.ly/33UEjc8)
Bead: Gold 9www.canadianll...)
Gills: Uni-Floss or Glo Brite Floss, White (bit.ly/2RYpnqF)

[@birdog49]

Great video. 👍

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Hi Al, I am pleased to hear you enjoyed this video. I am planning to do more in the future. If you have any suggestions for future tying demos please don't hesitate to ask. Cheers, Phil

[@guytrout7101]

Well done, enjoyed the info.

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks. I am pleased To hear you enjoyed this presentation. Cheers, Phil

[@edboutdoors3632]

Amazing talk and tie live Phil keep up the amazing informative work!!

[@joeduca8582]

Thanks Phil and Ryan, that was excellent! Great tying tips, patterns and some memories of materials that I haven't heard in years - phentex and swanandaze. Nice to know your Stillwaters book I bought a while back may be a collectors item :o) Cheers guys!

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Thanks Joe, I am pleased to hear you enjoyed this event. Yes, don't let anything happen to that book. Cheers, Phil

[@joeduca8582]

@@PhilRowleyFlyFishing You bet!

[@clulessable]

I recently bought a package of 6916 from my local fly shop in California. I then compared it to the original that a good friend in Victoria had. The two are identical. In all kinds of light the two were undistinguishable. I left the gills long on one version so I could distinguish the two apart. The owner of the original and many other fisherman looked and were amazed. Everyone thought the original was gone. The shop has three more packages on the shelf. I could easily buy them for you two if you like. I can send macro photography shots if needed. Guarantee you won’t know the difference.

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

If you found the original 6916 you have found a treasure. The original is lighter than the new dye lot. I would never turn down an opportunity to have a package of the original. 😃 Cheers, Phil

[@clulessable]

Send me your email and I’ll send you photos of the old and new. I cannot post pics on the comments of KZbin. I could send you a package via USPS if you want.

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

@@clulessable [e-mail]

[@clulessable]

@@PhilRowleyFlyFishing email sent

[@ValcoBayrunner]

My local hardware stores no longer carry brushable crazy glue, they had pens and gel formula. They had gorilla glue in brushable. Might be a covid supply issue, who knows. I use sally hansen nail polish and loon uv , but i prefer to keep the ribbed look. The uv coatings fills in the voids and can remove the ribbed look. Our ice just went out and water temps were only 49.5 dgrees. Just tied up some anti static bag chironomids to try this year. Really like those brown magic beads from Togens.

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Not sure what other stores are in your area but you can get brushable superglue from WalMart and Michaels too. Cheers, Phil

[@edwardhayes5230]

Why did you guys say 6916 when the flashaboo was 6909?

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Hi Edward, the Flashabou color for the Bronzie was copper #6909. During the course of our live presentation, we also discussed Flashabou #6916, Blue Steel. In its original dye lot #6916 was a great color for imitating shiny, gassed-up chironomid pupa. It was a great substitute for anti-static bags which requires cutting and it isn't as easy to work with as Flashabou. Sadly the dye lot for #6916 has changed. It isn't a bad color it's just not the same color as the original. Sorry if this added a level of confusion to our conversation. I have placed the materials for each fly in the comments section along with links to where you can find it. Cheers, Phil

[@robertmaldonado4529]

What is the number oof the frostbite you just used?

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Hi Robert, I believe the color is Summer Duck and the color was #61. Rootbeer Buzzer Wrap is a great substitute. Cheers, Phil

[@sonsoffishes1]

Hey Phil, you're missing the best.. Where's the porn mid!? If you're going to talk retro killer midges the porn mid tops them all!!

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

Pornomid is a great fly and has a strong following in some regions but I was focusing on demonstrating flies that I had developed and that have worked well for me over the years. One of the flies I tied even predates the Pornomid. Cheers, Phil

[@sonsoffishes1]

@@PhilRowleyFlyFishing I was just kidding around, but appreciate the reply. Thanks for the video!

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

@@sonsoffishes1 No problem. All in good fun! :) Cheers, Phil

[@FredBorody]

I see you do not tapper them

[@PhilRowleyFlyFishing]

I do add a taper n some of my patterns. It all depends on the materials I am using. I do wonder at times if we assume the fish see too much detail. If the do how come they don’t seem to recognize the hook. 😃 Cheers Phil

[@FredBorody]

Thankyou so much for the reply