Tying a Black Adult Midge (Duck Fly) by Davie McPhail

Materials Used;
Hook, Fulling Mill Czech Nymph size 14
Thread, Uni-8/0 White
Rib, Small Silver Wire
Tag, White Thread
Body, Dyed Black Pheasant Tail Fibres
Thorax Cover, UTC Large Opal Mirage Tinsel
Thorax, Gol-Brite No.4 Flu Red Floss and Black Seals Fur or Sub mixed with a little Rainbow Lite-Brite or Similar
Wing Tips, Indian Grizzle or Cree dyed Grey
Hackle, Dyed Black Hen..

[@aaronvining2336]

It always looks like there’s not enough room for the hackles and then BOOM everything fits and looks amazing.

[@metubewot]

Again, beautiful. Thanks for the tip on cutting mirage, and the white thread, for breathers. Loved it.

[@jeffnotti9932]

now THAT is a beautiful fly!! I love that fly.. perfect classic fly... wow J

[@DavieMcPhail]

Thanks Jeff👍

[@KellyH6312]

You have improved my tying exponentially! Thanks!

[@mrdivinewithin]

Thanks for all the videos, I really appreciate the help ✌🏻

[@arcticriversideflyfishing3195]

I've used a similar pattern like this for a few years, and it has worked great, even in the autumn! Thanks for showing us, Davie!

[@tomcrowley9269]

this is better than Christmas. I get to see you tie 2 new patterns in 2 days. Beautiful work as always. Many thanks

[@timdion7834]

I was kayaking on a local lake with my wife the other night & a midge hatch was coming off & the fish were just sipping them at the surface. I said to my wife, “I need to come up with a black adult midge pattern I can fish in the surface film.” Thank you for sharing the perfect pattern sir.

[@dannymcg8300]

A very nice looking fly Davie. Nicely tied and well explained as always. Many thanks for sharing.

[@gareth6898]

Avoided a Blank yesterday thanks to this pattern Davie, tied it up last minute and glad I did. Tight lines

[@dannymcg8300]

Very nice midge Davie. Nicely tied as always. Many thanks for sharing.

[@user-lt2of4rk2j]

I think it is a cool-looking midge that perfectly matches the beautiful color of the wing hackle and the body of the fly, giving off a sense of life. by Cream

[@thomasgibbons353]

Certainly did enjoy that one Davie. Thank you.

[@andrewplayer9923]

Thank's Davie, another great video. I'll be tying some of these, well trying to anyway! Looks like a fish catcher...

[@duderoony]

A nice variation on a theme Davie. Thanks for another one dude

[@jackreeves3001]

I really look forward to your flies I've learned a lot. Stay well and safe!!

[@fliesbychris]

Will be doing a few of them next week when they start this curfew over here. Keep them coming Davie I'll have a lot of spare time soon. ATB Chris

[@mikegreenpants4885]

Davie, always have loved your work. This pattern will be on my vise tomorrow.

[@rwfetterman2546]

As always, simply fantastic, thank you...

[@jimflynn466]

Thanks for posting this Davie, a cert for the duckfly and any big buzzers hatching off, roll on 2021 we might get out on the water. Look after yourself and stay safe. Jimf

[@coasterbrookie]

Just pure pleasure watching the master at his craft. Thanks Davie

[@50Squirrel]

Brilliant as always!

[@mikewalters4994]

Great Pattern!! I'm glad you also, done the black one. I like the Olive to, but I had to order the Olive Colors. But I have the material for the Black one. I'm going to tie some in Black while I wait until I get my Olive material in. So, thinks a lot for doing the Black Fly too. Keep the Videos coming!!...

[@dongil123]

Never been first to a Davie McPhail upload until today Cheers for you excellent work Davie.

[@dongil123]

One question, what do you use to thin down the varnish when it starts to get a bit thick? And could I use dyed black peacock herl instead of pheasant tail as I don't have any in black? OK sorry that was 2 questions lol thanks again.

[@callumclark3358]

In case Davie doesn't get back to you, these varnishes are usually cellulose, so you would need cellulose thinners, white spirit won't work. As you only need a tiny amount, it's better to beg, borrow or steal some, because it's more economical to just buy some more varnish. I would use black goose or turkey, I think peacock would be a bit much. Black dyed mole hair at a pinch?

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi dongil123, Callum is right as I do use a cellulose varnish which comes from Veniards and they sell the thinners for it which I add to the varnish as it gets a little heavy/thick..Yes dyed black peacock would make a great body though I would trim it to shape which I do on diawl-bachs when I want a finer body.. All the very best Davie..

[@1978artex]

A work of art as always Davie ATB. Robert

[@hopper1aoa15]

Amazing pattern and very skillful tie ....

[@zinnuryusupov2709]

Davie, this fly is very nice!!!

[@mauricehebert2839]

Beautiful tying my friend, love it .in new Brunswick should be a good trout fly..thanks

[@lasse1187]

Like this a lot thx for sharing Davie 👍👍

[@keithfarrell107]

Hi davie , years ago you mailed me some hackles for tying salmon flies when I couldn't find any material where I live , times have changed and its all readily available now and I'm still tying around 10/12 years later , Just wanted to say thanks again ,love you're videos as always , Keith.

[@DavieMcPhail]

Many Thanks Keith...All the very best Davie..

[@larryw1389]

Just what I needed, THANKS

[@danielfonseca2558]

perfect this fly congratulations on the video and thanks for sharing ..

[@zenbooter]

Thank you Davie.

[@StevenSmith-qt6cf]

True masster at work makes the process look so easy

[@kentw.897]

Beautiful Midge Davie. I will try to make some. 🌴🎣🏄‍♂️Aloha

[@firstpersonflyfishing]

Very nice pattern! I think that choose barbless hook is very important 👍

[@holmigeirr4773]

Top 👍Thanks. Many greetings from Germany

[@user-ji5rd5ml6k]

Здравствуйте Davie McPhail. От настоящего насекомого неотличить. Превосходно и не очень сложно связать точно такую же. Я обязательно попробую. Отличная мушка. Спасибо за ваш труд и за наше обучение. С уважением Сергей Н.

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Sergey, I am glad you liked the fly and thank you for all your kind words... All the very best Davie..

[@OldBear5255]

Great pattern mate. Always a pleasure to watch another great looking tying video from the Master. Thanks for sharing with us Davie. When you have time could you please try and do some classic wet flies . Best Regards, Ken

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Ken, Do you have a pattern in mind? and thank you for the kind words...ATB Davie..

[@OldBear5255]

Davie McPhail Good morning. I was just wondering if you could do the jock Scott or the abbey by Bergman ? Thanks a million my friend. Best Regards, Ken

[@stuartjones7903]

Excellent Davie as always very neat and polished but a suggestion if I may to explain something which is very basic on nearly every video you do of buzzers or nymphs where you wind on pheasant tail then something the opposite way to reinforce it perhaps to explain it better you could say that the reinforcement whether wire or thin tinsel is wound in an opposite helix to the pheasant tail fibres i.e a slight bias that everybody automatically has when winding something on a hook has an opposite slant so it lays across each slant of the pheasant tail winding therefore reinforcing it

[@orth..8171]

Dzieki za inspirację!

[@frankmonroe8320]

Thank You Davie! We're having a mild early spring here in NEW England. Hatches out there already.

[@DavieMcPhail]

Still cold here Frank but hopefully soon I'll be out and about myself and have a great season....All the very best Davie..

[@frankmonroe8320]

@@DavieMcPhail Thanks Davie. 45 degrees here today but I got out and cast a grey ghost at a local pond stocked with brookies. The fish were smarter than me. Take care. Frank

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Brilliant!

[@Vincentdonnelly5158]

Wow what a beauty.

[@Prostotakrybalka]

Super👍👍👍👍Good job!!! Like✌️✌️✌️

[@jameslennox2414]

Job well done 👌🎣🎣🎣

[@stevek2645]

what a great fly ! would you mind posting a video on how to ty as a dry fly ? Im new to fly tying and its much easier for me to recognize materials by looking at them. THANKS MUCH !!

[@mazay1106]

The fly is very beautiful; grayling must appreciate it. Just a class.👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍💣💣💣💣🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺

[@steveg8322]

Yesterday's dark,smouldering, Latin lover cousin. Dang!

[@luisrivas2040]

Saludos gracias por compartir tu videos 👍

[@user-ib5rn6dp1c]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@kenguruprugunshik7385]

Красиво👍👍👍

[@nickwalker1055]

Well this self isolation at least is going to let me restock a few boxes for our cumbrian rivers...

[@101mossie]

Nice

[@DavieMcPhail]

Thanks Blondie....ATB Davie..

[@Nikbaldin71]

👌👍🏻

[@BB1872]

Cracking wee pattern Davie , lovely tyed !! What do you use to thin your varnish?

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Billy, I just use the Veniards thinners which you can buy from them it will make your varnish last far longer before you need to buy any more... All the very best Davie.. www.sportfish.co.uk/varnish-thinners-15ml.html

[@BB1872]

@@DavieMcPhail thanks Davie I've been struggling for ages to find out what to use as HH H as N goes very gloopy after a wee while , I'll get some to thin it down , thanks very much 👍

[@user-lo2sc4dd1f]

Класс! 👍🤝🇰🇿

[@jameshughes9234]

Will we ever get to fish them?

[@krallmi48]

I did enjoy it, Davie... thank you. I'm still working through all the videos here... back to front. I've been in a section with a number of flies like this one in they have laid down hackle-tip wings. I've messed with using mallard flank barb clumps for wings of black ants. It works to an extent... especially if the wings are folded together. I've not had much success using this material to tie spread wings. I'm wondering if you might have ideas how to go about that? Just to say, for the ants I tie the abdomen, then the gap with one or two turns of hackle, then 1/2 the thickness of the combined thorax/head. I tie the mallard barb clump tight to the front of this, then add the rest of the front dubbing thickness over the mallard barbs, which lays the wing down and makes it look like it's coming out of the correct place. The fly doesn't float particularly well, but ants don't float well in my experience. Mike

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Mike, I have uploaded an ant pattern today which I think you would like to try, it's a great pattern and would be worth having in your box...It sits low just as the natural does though the wing being tyed on the top makes it easier to find...I'm glad you enjoyed the video and thanks again for the kind words.. All the very best Davie..

[@krallmi48]

@@DavieMcPhail Thank you, Davie. I like the idea of being able to see them. I've got some thin black foam. I'll tie some of these in #18 and #20... a common size here in Wyoming of the black ants I see. May have to use something besides deer hair, though I'll start with that and find out. Mike

[@Rubo7]

Can this be tied in a size 24? The tailwater I fish are full of midges around 24 size. If not? What fly do you recommend me to use?

[@Sittin.]

Why hen hackle? Isn´t ths a dry fly? Very nice though :)

[@JorgeSantos-nl8he]

Beautifull fly! Does it float well?

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Jorge Santos, This one will fish just below the surface but if you want to fish it on the top use a natural CDC feather for the wing and a cock hackle at the head and this will make it a good dry fly...I'm glad you liked it... All the very best Davie...

[@user-qt3hx1eh8u]

Мушка класс 🐝👍👍👍👍

[@owenmoran8344]

Nice fly... Have you done a video on a large dark olive fly? If not I would love to see one. Cheers

[@DavieMcPhail]

Morning Owen, I have attached which should be my playlist of dry flies and in that list you will find a few dressing that will represent the Dark Olive...I'm glad you liked the midge pattern...kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZrZYXaHa7ucqbs All the very best Davie

[@owenmoran8344]

@@DavieMcPhail thank you Davie. Tight lines

[@harleyjune1233]

what species is your wing - my cree is much "longer" yours is small like partridge.....thanks in advacen - and you fish this wet correct?

[@user-pc6mb5nm2v]

How do you fish this fly Dave?

[@dominiqueleblanc2193]

I love that pattern. Do yoy fish this lock style or in rivers also? And please guys if you watch mr. McPhail's videos and you are not a subscriber, please subscribe. Thanks.

[@paul50pb]

Tell me I have been watching a lot of your videos for a few years, I have tried flys for many a year myself, I can't understand why you do not use waxed tying threads

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Paul, Uni-thread is lightly wax but I just add a little more to get the extra grip especially when tying the hackles and wings on.. All the very best Davie

[@MICKA13ful]

Is it a wet fly ? very nice

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Mickaël TITAUD, It is a wet fly....ATB Davie

[@MICKA13ful]

@@DavieMcPhail Thanks

[@markmcmyn8967]

How would you fish this fly, as wet or dry? Doesn't look like it would float.

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Mark, It is a wet fly though I do tye a dry version, I replace the wing with natural grey CDC feathers and the hen hackle to a cock hackle I also leave out the thorax cover... All the very best Davie

[@markmcmyn8967]

@@DavieMcPhail Good looking pattern. You're videos teach how to accomplish, previously for me, difficult tasks in simpler, effective ways. You're classic atlantic salmon flies come 1st to mind.You're natural imitations are top notch. Thank-you.

[@PALLI12345]

What vice are you using

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Elias Kantelinen, I use a Law vice but unfortunately it's no longer being made though I did make a video of it which I have attached for you to see.. All the very best Davie.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYGZfo1_p9V6fZI

[@anablakp3200]

Beautiful tie Sir! For the hearing impaired I use your subtitles, but after extended happy hour your speech slurs and makes no sense in the subtitles. Appreciate a clean-up

[@mursherano]

The subtitles are hilarious, is it that hard to understand a Scottish accent?