Size 30, Black Beauty midge - McFly Angler Midge Nymph Fly Tying Tutorial

Midges are small, at least the vast majority of them are. Especially in western tail waters like the San Juan river. I have had to fish down to size 30 hook to get fish to strike, however at that size, it becomes very difficult to land these large fish. But this is luckily a fairly easy fly to tie, and one that makes it possible to tie down to a size 30 (even 32 if you can find the hooks). Midge pupa have a ribbed looking abdomen, and a thick head that encases their wings and legs. These little midges will start to emerge most days on rivers, and become a very stable food source for trout. One of the most abundant bugs on the river, their small size makes up for in such large quantities. So trout naturally will open up for one of these floating near them, and usually (as long as you are tying the right size) will not question eating such an easy meal. Drag these behind a heavier nymph to get it down, and let this bounce around behind it, looking like a pupa trying to swim to the surface.
Go check out Risen Fly to get great prices on awesome hooks, rods, reels and other fly fishing gear. Type in McFly at checkout for your discount.
As always I am listing the materials I used, and links to where to buy them.
Materials.....
Hook: Risen Barbless Emerger 2488 - www.risenfly.c...
Thread: Black Veevus 16/0 - amzn.to/2J5Bn1U
Wire: Silver x-small Ultra wire - amzn.to/2WznrVK
Head Cement: Hard as Hull - amzn.to/2xbNTu2
Tools.....
Vise: Renzetti Traveler - amzn.to/2t2FFmo
Bobbin: Stonfo Bobtec - amzn.to/38Ea7lN
Scissors: Dr. Slick all purpose - amzn.to/38DoLd6
Whip finisher: Dr. Slick brass - amzn.to/2tGYwDW
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[@slackline9841]

Been tying and fishing that pattern for well over a decade. It's one of the simplest and most effective flies for tailwater trout, especially in winter. I only fish mine down to size 22, but luckily that's as small as I need to go on my local waters. I keep some in my nymph box all year. Nice video.

[@McFlyAngler]

Thanks! Yeah for sure it’s a great pattern cause it’s simple. Haha! And it catches. Simple and catches is the best! Haha!

[@BP-1988]

I find the hardest part to tie this fly is to get the size 30 hook into the vice. I've also found a very simple and fast way to tie it on these small hooks. I start with a white 70 or 8/0 threat. Once the threat is on the hook I spin it counter clockwise to flatten it. After winding it just past the bend of the hook, I use a black permanent marker to make the tread body black. Make sure it is dry before cording the thread and winding the white threat back towards the eye for the rib. I also use black Kapok dubbing for the head. It's finer than most super fine dry fly dubbings and easier to use on these very small flies.

[@Michael-hg6ky]

Wow I found the video! Don't throw that one in the guppy tank....I am going to give this one a try one of these days soon just to see if I still have the eyes to do it. Great lesson and tips on the finishing steps. Very cool.

[@McFlyAngler]

Thank you, glad you found it.

[@nateoutdoors450]

I have a big dog (a bernese mountain dog) and she always has loose fur. I've made plenty of flies with her fur, but never midges. I'll have to try this using her fur and see how it goes

[@McFlyAngler]

Lol! Yeah tell me how it goes. I think maybe the fur would be too course for a size 30, but for sure a size 20 or bigger probably

[@farmerbob4554]

Never used down to size 30 but I’ve seen trout feeding on something that was pretty much invisible. No doubt these tiny midge pupa.

[@McFlyAngler]

Ha! For sure! Yeah especially in western tail waters. They just eat up the really small midges like this. And ok places like the San Juan, it the fly is much different in size than the natural, then they know something is up and don’t eat.

[@farmerbob4554]

McFly Angler You’re spot on. When the midge pupa are moving up through the water column the trout get keyed in on the size and gorge themselves.

[@McFlyAngler]

Yes.

[@trentonsendziak2906]

Great video

[@McFlyAngler]

Thanks

[@Jonathan-sv6ur]

would you ever consider make a video showing how to tie a feathered treble hook?

[@McFlyAngler]

Maybe, sure. I’ll look into it. Every video I make usually is a few weeks to a month out before I do get anything out. Just FYI.

[@Jonathan-sv6ur]

the only shop in town that sells any fly tying stuff, does not have dubbing of any color so ive been using dryer lint. it seems to work

[@chappelloutdoors8817]

Jonathan nice name man, adapt emprovise and overcome 😂. : my names also Jonathan

[@McFlyAngler]

Drier lint works! Use it! If your shop doesn’t carry dubbing, then let them know you want it. That is if you want something different than the drier lint. I don’t know a fly shop that sells fly tying stuff anywhere that doesn’t carry dubbing! Haha! You can always order online also if you need. But if drier lint is working for you than awesome! And I’ve used that before. Heck I even tied a fly with my beard hair. Get creative, use whatever you can find to make a fly that catches fish!

[@mado7028]

You could order dubbing on Amazon.

[@McFlyAngler]

Yep! Many online fly shops also, I’ve got links in the description section of this video.

[@chappelloutdoors8817]

McFly Angler aight this is weird asf but I’ve used pubes to tie flies and we went to a petting zoo that had buffalo and they where shedding I plucked a chunk of hair out of its head and loved tying flies with it

[@jeffjackson5331]

Now that is a tiny tiny fly.

[@McFlyAngler]

Lol yes it is

[@MeganThompson-ek2nj]

Thankyou so much helped alot

[@McFlyAngler]

Glad to have helped, thank you for watching

[@sweaspurdoddd5466]

Finally something I can tie

[@McFlyAngler]

For sure! It’s a good one too. Will work no question

[@benjamintanner2502]

What size tippet you use for a 30. Id feel accomplished just threading it on my line lol

[@chappelloutdoors8817]

Benjamin Tanner most likely 7x

[@McFlyAngler]

Haha! So these hooks have an oversized eye, you can fit 6x in there, but yes 7x and 8x are more common for tiny flies like this.

[@JamesMcCutcheon]

Those old Mustad hooks size 24 look smaller than your 30's Wow the numbers are all messed up now. I am tying this fly you presented. Good Video but all the UV stuff I am still lost on colors but I think what it means is that the trout see UV so they can see these tiny bits of flies with the UV Active material in the dubbing.

[@McFlyAngler]

No I just have a good camera with a good zoom. The old 24’s are larger than this 30. But you are right, with wide gap hooks, and different brands hooks labeled the same size can be different sizes.

[@chappelloutdoors8817]

Nice fly but where I’m from fish like stonefly nymph and bigger aquatic bugs like that, wha type of fly vise are you tying with

[@McFlyAngler]

I’m using the renzetti, all that info is in the description section. As for the flies you use in your river, I have tried many stonefly nymphs on camera. Working on getting a golden stonefly out also soon. Go check out the 20incher I tied. It’s a bit stonefly nymph that works well in Colorado.

[@АнатолийСатриванов-м6п]

Добры вечер 👌👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍✊

[@McFlyAngler]

So has anyone tied on hooks as small as 30? How about 32? What is the smallest hook you have tied on, and what pattern was it?

[@jasrobsny]

24 midge nymphs and dries. We just don't need smaller in our area.

[@McFlyAngler]

Still small! What are your favorite nymphs to tie down to that small?

[@jasrobsny]

@@McFlyAngler Nano rib, Mercury, JuJuBee

[@McFlyAngler]

Oh never heard of the nano rib; I’ll have to look it up. Mercury is a great fly, and that juju bee is an awesome pattern. You use superhair body for it?

[@jasrobsny]

@@McFlyAngler Of course just like charlie calls for. I think it's the first midge I learned to tie ever.

[@brett9382]

Just wondering how do you even fish with a size 30 hook. Seems like if a decent sized fish would be able to bend the hook straight very easily.

[@McFlyAngler]

No, so I’ve caught plenty of decent fish, some in the 20” range with a hook like this. I fished a longer rod, 10’... and lighter as well, 3wt. Would give a long enough time for reflexes to play the fish properly. Sometimes the larger fish are smarter and will only bite the correct size fly. And if you have seen midges, especially on western tailwaters, they are teeny tiny!

[@frankbrown7473]

Do you fish this in the surface film or with a split shot?

[@McFlyAngler]

Either, generally I sink it. But can be fished closer to surface. Adding cdc or foam wing case would be a bit better for fishing it in the film

[@hardtomello364]

Although I did find some size 30 scud hooks back in the day but lost them when I lost my fly box

[@McFlyAngler]

Oh no! Sorry to hear that

[@mado7028]

I’ve Caught some of the largest fish in a tiny Midge on the San Juan River.

[@McFlyAngler]

Yes, 20+ inchers all day long when fishing tiny. Just rough to bring them in. A 10’ 3wt rod really helps... but your gonna loose some! Haha

[@brodybrandstatterjr.4978]

Can you please do a articulated pike streamer

[@McFlyAngler]

I have... go check that video out.

[@hardtomello364]

I‘ve tied size 18 nymph hooks I can’t find any smaller than 18

[@McFlyAngler]

You can order them? amzn.to/2UoDYuc

[@McFlyAngler]

18 works fine though

[@IronSwan73]

Size 30 oh my lanta

[@McFlyAngler]

Yeah pretty small for sure.

[@everythingaction3927]

I only have red wire so I tie these with red not silver

[@McFlyAngler]

That will probably work. Maybe try red thread with red wire. Would be a good annelid pattern.

[@stevepotischman5939]

Nope. And even if I could, I would need a ghillie to find it in my fly box and tie it on. 😀

[@McFlyAngler]

Haha! For sure! Thanks for the comment.

[@jasrobsny]

Texas Hole isn't even in Texas. HA

[@McFlyAngler]

Nope...