CDC loop wing midge always saves the day

above photo: CDC Loop Wing Midge on a TMC 212Y #17

The majority of the time on rivers all over the world midges are active and bouncing around doing their midge thing. There are over 20,000 different species of Diptera. I would have to say that its typically a midge pattern that saves the day for me. In many ways the midge is like a trouts version of the potato chip, they are always accessible and hard to pass up.

above photo: I make use of my B grade cork rings and dry quill bodies on them, then again... my B grade cork is most makers A grade! These hooks shown above are a mixture of #17 TMC 212Y and Hanak #18 Klinkhammers, the Hanaks are wonderful but the wire gauge is a bit heavier so be mindful of using a bit more Kapok on the thoraxes to beef up the buoyancy. You may also want to use two feathers on the loop not just one.

Finding the perfect midge patterns to fill my boxes season after season has become an obsession. Because I fish limestoners and spring creeks the majority of the time its important to point out that these are the go to patterns that will often outperform the usual suspects. My best patterns are uncluttered and designed to land perfectly every time, well most every time. While midge fishing over very selective shallow feeders you typically only have one or two strategic drifts so its important to get your ducks lined up perfectly. It can be very technical fishing but also the most rewarding. These are not meant to be prospecting flys, these are flys I use specifically for fish on the rise and clearly dialed into my sights.

(The above video short gives you a view of this fly in profile)

The CDC Loop Wing Midge is a pattern that I have distilled down year after year and is one that has proven itself in particularly difficult circumstances. The images shown are shot with a powerful zoom lens so you can see some of the more minute details of this emerger. I just recently started tying the base layer of the thorax with Kapok dubbing that helps considerably with the buoyancy of this fly. The micro knotted legs also act as tiny outriggers and keep the fly in the surface film where I want it. 

If you have seen a #17 TMC 212Y its pretty small but still allows you to dress it like it was a #14. The wire is fine and the hook geometry is damn near perfect in my opinion for a very reliable emerger pattern. At this size it is visible but not too big or too small on a 20 to 40 foot cast. So you might say this #17 has a bit of a sweet spot based on its uniform scale in most selective situations on the rivers I fish. The TMC 212Y steps down to a #19 that will increase your chances as well. Both sizes are something I never fish without.

above photo: An example of a #19 TMC 212Y, now you see what I mean by the actual smallish sizing of these Tiemco hooks, my rule of thumb for the 212Y is two sizes down from specified hook designation.

above photo: The two knotted joints in the legs are spaced at around 1/16ths if you wish to see how I do this I have posted a You Tube video with a link below.

CDC Loop Wing Midge 

Hook: TMC 212Y #17 or #19

Thread: UTC Ultra 70 gray or black

Abdomen: Stripped peacock quill natural

Legs: Micro knotted pheasant tail black

Thorax Dubbing: Kapok base topped with Black SLF Spikey Squirrel

Wing: CDC beige or natuaral

For micro knotted legs demo select the You Tube link:

Micro Knotted Legs

thanks for letting me share ~ Clint Bova