A few days ago one of my followers asked me if I tie up my sparse spent wing midges using alternate colors and materials so I thought I would write an entry on my Goblin Snatcher. As we well know crippled mayflies, caddis, and midges in their “wings down” position signals a red light to trout. They will pass up duns in their upright position and focus completely on sipping in the crippled unfortunates.
Midges flutter at 1000 + WBPS otherwise known as wing beats per minute. That's one very athletic water born insect! There are more than 20,000 different midge species worldwide. The scientific name is Chironomidae and are even found in the Arctic and Antarctic. Most adult midge imitations are rendered with the wings back in a more delta wing position which is considered a resting position. Once stuck in the surface film wings are splayed and no longer moving at break neck speeds. Trout being the opportunists that they are, now dial in on the less athletic and considerably handicapped in the feeding line. Easy targets means less energy spent. So the crippled version of the adult is extremely important to have in hand both on and off the hatch.
The Goblin Midge is my version of the adult crippled midge. While I was on the Grand River in Elora west of Toronto back in the late 90's I was fishing alongside a Scottish guide. He took a gander inside one of my midge fly boxes after getting refusal after refusal on his drifts. I offered him a down wing adult green midge pattern and he said “look at these little goblins” so the name stuck ever since. I'll spare you the yarn at the pub in Fergus later that evening after he pulled in a 22" inch brown on my #18 midge. The Goblin Midge saved the day.
Goblin Midge | Adult Cripple
Hook: TMC 531 Short shank hook #18 (shown)
Thread: Veevus 14/0 Olive
Abdomen: Flexi Floss built up with a green dyed peacock quill over wrapped then varnished
Legs: Ginger micro knotted pheasant tail
Wings: Hen tips tied in splayed in spent position dyed tan or light dun
Hackle: Barred Ginger wrapped in criss cross around a dubbed thorax collar
(click on any of the images below to enlarge)
Working the hackle around hen tips in this smaller footprint can be challenging, the wings are located high up on the hook like the natural. Dub a nice thorax ball around the wings to hold them into place.
Using a criss cross wrap of barred ginger hackle around the thorax dubbing, two turns initially around the back of the wings, followed by a turn diagonally around each wing and your done. You need not over hackle this fly.
My peers call me a “sparse tyer” and this fly is no exception. The above midge is a relatively simple fly to tie. It holds a special place in my heart based on my memories and travels in and around PA and Canada. It's a game changer during hatches when the active naturals are being ignored completely. Don't be ignored tie one up and give it a try!
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