This adult fly pattern is a fly I use all the time especially in the late summer and fall. Like many caddis patterns during the fall season adult midges take on a rusty tan color on the Mad River. The Ginger Smudge is tied on a fine wire short shank hook. It is a relatively simple pattern to tie other than the fact that it is very small. Keeping the bulk down is very important so I count my wraps, use fine beaver belly dubbing, and minimize the amount of CDC, two or three feathers is sufficient.
The TMC 531 #20 is first wrapped with a ginger dyed quill and varnished
Micro knotted ginger pheasant tail legs, do this with tweezers
and a high powered magnifier
Tie in knotted pheasant tail three hook eyes back, four legs are
enough two on either side
Underwing use Tiemco Aero Dry Wing or waterproof Antron
a hook eyes distance short of the hook bend
Dub in a sparse collar of ginger beaver belly
Tie in Ginger CDC (over wing) make sure it does not extend
beyond end of quill at hook bend
Use your velcro hook stick to loosen up beaver belly slightly this will
give the appearance of a gestural impressionistic fly in profile
Proportionally this adult midge pattern is sparse at best but we have tied
in some materials that can potentially cause bulk problems so
count your wraps and “tie small”
With some practice this fly is simple to tie even at this hook size,
remember not to over dub and use a 16/0 thread count your wraps!
Hook: TMC 531 short shank #18-24
Thread: Veevus ginger 16/0
Body: Pheasant tail quill tan or ginger
Legs: Ginger knotted peacock (micro knots)
Under Wing: Aero Dry Wing lt. dun (shown) or Antron
Wing: Ginger CDC
Happy Midging!
~Clint Joseph Bova