Fly of the Month - September 2009

Zebra Midge

Hook: Size 18 or 20
Thread: Black (or Red or Brown)
Ribbing: Fine Silver or Copper wire (to match bead)
Weight: Fine (un)lead wire. (optional)
Bead head: Silver (copper with brown thread) 5/64 (2 mm) with a #18 hook. A tungsten bead can be used to get the fly down deep.

The Zebra Midge is ridiculously easy to tie!
1. Mash the barb.
2. Slide the bead onto the hook. (This is probably the most difficult step of the whole process.) Make sure the small hole on the bead is towards the hook eye.
3. (optional) Some tyers make a couple of wraps of very fine (un) lead wire behind the bead and push them into the larger hole. This helps to secure the bead in place and adds a little weight.
4.  Start the thread and tie in the wire. Run the thread with the wire down to the bend of the hook. Run the thread forward and create a taper behind the bead.
5. Wind the wire forward to the bead and secure with the thread.
6. Cut off the wire and thread and secure with head cement.

The Zebra Midge can be fished in a least two ways. It can be fished deep. In this case a tungsten bead can be used and/or a split shot can be added a foot or so above the fly. Use your strike indicator of personal choice. If the water is shallow or there are midges hatching, fish the Zebra Midge about 18 inches below the tiniest strike indicator that you can handle. In this case a tungsten bead is not needed. Use 6X or 7X tippet.  Be very careful of drag!

The basic Zebra Midge can be fancied up in a variety of ways. A couple of useful variations include the Rim Shoals Zebra Midge and the DW Prism Midge. However the plane vanilla version works great all year around. The Zebra Midge is a must have fly for the White and Norfork Rivers!

Tying directions by Mike Tipton.

Fly tied by Bob Jones.

Click for Printable Recipe