Zebra Midge Questions...

[FlySmyth]

What colors do you tie Zebra midges in?

What color wire i.e. silver, grey, black, do you use with which color thread?

Do you prefer beads or dubbing or herl for the head.

Is that bead/herl/dubbing supposed to be the head or thorax? If thorax what do you make the head out of?


This tying hobby is gettin to be an obsession!!!

BTW, I really would like to thank you all that share so willing what you know with those of us that don't.

Ken.

[carpman]

Ken,
You already know I tie mine with a gray rib. I don't add anything for a thorax. My zebra's are just the hook, silver bead, thread and wire...........

[FlySmyth]

Carpman,

What size wire do you use? I have BR Grey and am tying size 18s and the rib seems awful big. Is it supposed to be that prominant, the rib I mean?

One more question please. Do you use a silver beed for all the colors you tie? And if I may sneek in an extra question, what colors and sizes do you tie for the Provo?

Ken.

[carpman]

For an 18 I prefer small wire. I use the silver bead for all of them. Colors: Red, black, BROWN, olive, green and occasionally gray. Usually in size 18, but I use as big as 16, and as small as 22...............

[Jason]

That's the beauty of tying zebra midge style patterns, you can use an assortment of color combinations and they'll all catch fish. The original zebra midge, I believe, is tied with a black thread body, silver wire, and a fur thorax. There really isn't a 'head'.

Try gold, silver, and copper wire for the ribbing, different thread colors, and different bead colors and try them out in mulitple combinations. Be creative. You'll find that black, olive, cream, red, and gray are the best colors. A gun-metal beadhead can be deadly.

[Trout4x]

They really are so simple to tie it doesn't hurt having the many of the variations mentioned. Tie a couple of each and when you find which ones produce better for you then you load up on the color combinations that work where you fish.

[dan moulton]

I've been tying mine with a 2mm silver Tungsten head. 18's and 20's
Seems to be a good weight.
But then I've used red, brown, clear, and green/blue irridecent beads as well.
Its your fly have a party.