Stillborn Midge Emerger

I have not used this a lot yet. The little I have tried it, it has been fruitful. I find the hardest part of tying this is using too big or thick a piece of foam. The rest of the fly is straight forward but the foam should not be overdone. Also, do not cinch down too tight on foam at eye or you will cut through the foam. Reinforce the thread wraps with a dab of head cement. This fly’s abdomen could be tied in any number of colors. The material for the abdomen can be any light weight material. Keep the ribbing a fine wire. I include this pattern as a nice option for midges. It is a good match to the ‘bow tie’ midge emerger style. I think the bow tie is easier to tie in than the pulled over foam. The hackle tip wings are nice. Of course, you could use hackle fibers/barbs or CDC, but this is equally simple.       

Hook: Size 16 or smaller depending upon your fumble factor, dry fly hook

Thread: 14/0 Black (8/0 for larger sizes is fine)

Abdomen: Black Krystal Flash (or thread body or Superfine Dubbing)

Ribbing: Silver fine wire (as light as possible if used at all)

Wing: Two hackle tips (dun, grizzly, brown)

Hackle: One wrap of grizzly hackle

Wingcase: thin strip of foam pulled over thorax and tied off at eye (white or yellow for visibility)

Thorax: Peacock herl