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View Full Version : do I need both of these?

solowookie
03-31-2003, 09:20 PM
these 2 patterns look almost identical, and I'm wondering if I should tye both, or if one of the other will work?

http://www.utahonthefly.com/flytying/flyarchive/redmidge.htm
http://www.utahonthefly.com/flytying/flyarchive/zbramdge.htm
steelie
03-31-2003, 09:25 PM
I don't think its very important to have a furry headed midge and a slim one, but I think you should have them in both black and red.
solowookie
03-31-2003, 09:53 PM
got that covered, and olive, and gray and brown... LOL red & black were the first ones I did.

I need to do some beadhead's now.
flyty
03-31-2003, 11:15 PM
It seems like some people are of the school of thought that midge patterns shouldn't have distinct heads, like the Yong Special, and that red midge in the link. Other patterns call for midge patterns with a large head/thorax. What works best? Who knows. I do believe they are distinct patterns though.
solowookie
04-01-2003, 12:19 AM
I'm tying half with just thread, and the other half with dubbing thorax & beadhead's...

should cover both bases, and give me some extra weight I think.
Ouzel
04-01-2003, 12:26 AM
how easy they are to tie and how small they are there is little reason not to have 3-4 of each in 3-4 sizes.
Jason
04-01-2003, 05:46 AM
The Red pattern you posted is used to represent the larva; immature stage of a midge. The larva stage tends to be slim and no pronounced thorax/head. The black zebra midge you posted is used to represent a midge pupa. During the pupa stage the thorax/head is much more pronounced and swollen. Prior to emergence the thorax/head area is enlarged because that's where the wings and adult body parts have developed. At emergence the thorax/head swells even more. That's why small beadhead (or the pattern you posted) patterns do so well. They imitate a midge pupa.
solowookie
04-01-2003, 06:45 AM
thanks for the input everybody... yea these flies are easy to tye. I'll go ahead with all of them.

I really need to learn how to determine what stages these things are at so I can better identify what flies I should be using.

right now my methods are more going off fishing reports, and using the flies I think should work.