Net Head Midge | selective trout emerger pattern
I had a conversation with an old timer on Big Spring Creek last week, and he was peeking into my fly box at some of my midge emergers that I usually tie on TMC 212Y. He was scoping in on a few of my #17 quill patterns and asked if I could tie him a few that had some sparkle, mimicking the shuck, as well as some of my staple loop wing patterns. I enthusiastically pulled out a small tin from my vest and showed him my “Net Heads,” as I call them. This is simply an extra Antron cream-colored net-like shroud over the initial CDC loop. He liked these little morsels very much. He also mentioned it would help him see the fly in the surface film. He was correct the added shrowd not only helps the CDC bubble maintain buoyancy but also makes it easier to see in slightly faster drifts.
This is a very versatile emerger pattern and has served me well in the Smokies as well as other spring creeks in West Virginia, PA, and my home water near my house in Urbana, the Mad River.
This is a simple pattern to tie and has paid big dividends everywhere I have fished it, specifically for very selective feeders in the fall. I use Kapok as the first layered in the thorax and top it off with black Beaver Belly.
Net Head Midge
Hook: TMC 212Y #17-#19
Thread: UTC Ultra 70 Black
Body: Polish quill natural
Wing: Swiss Super Select CDC natural
Loop Shroud: Cream Antron
Dubbing: Kapok topped with Black Beaver Belly
This is a very simple midge pattern to tie and can be tied using many color variations.
I use this pattern frequently in slightly faster currents in very shallow clear water, but it is also quite effective in swift pocket water in places like the Smokies where the little Brookies are hitting tiny emergers in the gurgling shallow pools.
Thanks for letting me share!
~Clint Bova
