Above photo: A loop-wing midge emerger tied on a Hanak 360 BL There is an inordinate amount of time that I spend tinkering with both adult and emergent midges. Since midges are on the trout's menu through all four seasons, it stands to reason why fly fishers become so obsessed with these tiny water-born insects. Midges take up about half of the fly boxes I carry on any given fly-fishing session. I carry pupa, adults, and emergers, but the majority of trout are caught on the emerger patterns that I tie. I chalk this up to having more “fish-catching confidence” during the emergent phase and prefer the emerger hooks more in general. The emerger is more susceptible to predators due to its lack of mobility, making it preferred by trout based on the insects susceptibility and sheer numbers. This assumption supports the “pounds per meat law” phenomenon. This phrase was coined by the late Carl Richards and Doug Swisher to describe trout selectively feeding on the insect most readily availa...