Tying the Red Slasher (Winter midge fly pattern)

From an article by Richard Strolis in the Winter 2024 issue of "Fly Tyer" magazine, this simple red midge pattern should be an effective fly in all sorts of trout waters.
Hook: #12-20 curved shank
Bead: Tungsten, sized to match the hook
Thread: Red
Body: Red vinyl over Crystal Flash
Wing: Crystal flash
** Some of the popular books used on this channel: **
Fly Pattern Encyclopedia: amzn.to/34U0rUe
Mike Valla's "Tying the Founding Flies," 2015, amzn.to/354oSir
Valla's "Tying and Fishing Bucktails..." 2016, amzn.to/3Jg2Mys
Valla's "Tying Catskill-Style Dry Flies," 2020, amzn.to/3DmYOjJ
Valla's "Classic Streamer Fly Box," 2020, amzn.to/3n3Vakf
Dave Hughes, "Essential Trout Flies," 2017, amzn.to/3lbCZYX
Hughes, "Nymphs for Streams and Stillwaters," amzn.to/3HC2jpc
Hughes, "Wet Flies," 2015, amzn.to/33ac3lQ
David Klausmeyer's "Favorite Flies," 2020, amzn.to/3oeSNMa
Randle Scott Stetzer's "Flies, the Best One Thousand," amzn.to/34Q15mp
Terry Hellekson's "Popular Fly Patterns," 1976, amzn.to/2L4IyvS
Dick Stewart's, "Flies for Bass and Panfish," 1992, amzn.to/3aGpFs1
Savage Flies is a project with the mission of encouraging and teaching fly tying to as many people as possible. The channel is named after one of my western Maryland homewaters, the Savage River. Thanks for stopping by.

[@diecastrejuvenation7779]

I always look forward to the next issue of Fly Tyer. I immediately look at the back cover to see what what flies look fun to tie. This is a good looking midge and changing up the rib color would be fun as well.

[@chevyguy6510]

Midges catch a lot of fish for me! Thanks Matt!

[@tompeterson559]

I like the use of the crystal flash for the underbody. Thank you!

[@ZacharyBobbie1611]

Another awesome fly pattern, Matt! I appreciate the midge patterns too! Thank you for sharing! Tight lines! 😎🎣

[@edwardmlotkiewicz2343]

Nice pattern. I also saw this in "Fly Tyer" and kind of passed on it. It looks like a midge bloodworm. Thanks,Matt for another great video.

[@joeduca8582]

yummy looking fly. Would make a good bloodworm for ice fishing. Bubblegum or pink for steelhead. Trout, panfish too. Nice one Matt, thanks!

[@davehall2160]

Good looking fly, Matt I definitely need to try this one out Thanks for the video

[@ybarrajc]

Thanks for sharing Matt, another simple and fishable fly. Have a blessed day my friend.

[@BeyerOutdoors]

Thanks for sharing. I get Fly Tyer as well & enjoy it a lot. I try at least one pattern from each issue.

[@bigdaddy99929]

Cool little fly. Thx Matt

[@burtonbrocious171]

Hi matt effective looking little midge pattern tks 😊

[@AlAraujo-zr2nh]

Nice fly. Have a great day!

[@huntingmissouri5420]

I like it! Thanks for sharing Matt!

[@harleymandk]

thats a great mag! got the pdf file...

[@frankmonroe8320]

Very nice Matt. I bet with a little weight that would work well through the ice.

[@davidveilleux4688]

Thanks Matt for bringing us this pattern. I've been looking for winter patterns for this upcoming winter. In my area of western SD our temps are predicted to be above normal. So perfect for fly fishing our smaller streams . This pattern looks like it could definitely work. I am also thinking this fly could work through the ice . A nice ice fishing bug . I'll let you know.

[@SavageFlies]

Yes David, do let me know if you have any luck with it! And I agree it could be fished almost like a jig through the ice. :-)

[@Jd-yc3gw]

Hope your weekend is going well Matt. Nice midge pattern. Be interested to see how this one performs on the water. We are heading north for Christmas this year. Leaving later this week. Usually we stay down but Super Grandma needs a grandbaby fix. 😀. Be back in the desert in January. Take care Matt. Have a great week.

[@Stewart-t2x]

I was reading that article that fly was mentioned. I was looking at the Griffith gnat variant. Looks like I give that fly a whirl. Thanks

[@vrich3733]

Thanks Matt! 👋

[@Wyamike734]

Nice looking fly. Thanks for the video.

[@jimholland1592]

Hey Matt☕️☕️ It is midge time😉👍

[@floydharlan2152]

Have done a variation of this with different color flash with a clear rib. Pink and lite brown have worked great.

[@SavageFlies]

I haven't Floyd, but that's a great idea! I've tied a fairly similar one in purple but not exactly. Kind of more a zebra midge. But I'll have to give a pink one a try!

[@jeffjackson5331]

Neat looking fly.

[@markfritch3168]

Very interesting pattern Matt. I wonder what it would represent. Just curious about those things. Actually doesn’t much matter as long as it catches fish. Thanks for tying and hope your week goes well.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Mark! I would guess in small sizes it's basically a midge pupa. Kind of like what a zebra midge imitates. Maybe a blood worm in the bigger sizes (if it's red). But really, I think you're right in that it just looks like something a fish might want to eat. :-)

[@brianferguson9483]

Nice tie bud

[@butchcunningham5344]

Nice tie...Matt I've been trying to send pictures of an AC/DC Fly pattern that I came up with, but it comes back as undeliverable mail. I'm just letting you know. Thanks again.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Butch! I'm having issues with that email. Send it to my personal if you don't mind: [e-mail].

[@joshuaneal4125]

Looks tasty

[@EdwardLawton-jm1gt]

If you don't have red tubing can you substitute clear over the red?

[@TokyoNightGirlLofi]

👍 !! ! 🧡

[@georgepretnick4460]

Great tie. The distinction between a 'fly' and a 'jig' no longer exists.

[@SavageFlies]

You know, I think you're right George! It seems that anything we can cast with a fly rod we just call flies nowadays. I have a lot of old books that called streamers "lures" instead of flies. And also, some old books made the distinction between streamers and bucktails. Apparently a featherwing was the only thing that was a streamer and a bucktail was just a bucktail. I guess as times have changed the distinction has been lost. :-)