Midges undergo ‘complete metamorphosis,’ meaning they pass through four complete life stages. These are the egg, larvae pupa, and adult stages. Adult female midges lay their eggs in aquatic habitats. They may scatter them over the water’s surface or deposit them in a gelatinous mass on emergent vegetation. Credit: Biting midge life cycle. (Illustration by: Scott Charlesworth, Purdue University.
By Skip Clement
This fly by Tim Flagler, Winter Parachute Midge, is tied on a #22 Dai-Riki Scud/Pupa 1X short hook. It’s not one of hundreds of midge imitations.
As most everyone knows, midges are generally the only thing taking off and landing in the middle of winter – giving winter trout fishing the get-off-the-couch push needed.
It took six tries to get the proportions right. Also, the recipe comprises only some of the materials I carry. So, an online purchase from Stockard caused a three-day delay.
Recipe Winter Parachute Midge by Tim Flagler
Hook: Scud/pupa hook (here, a Dai-Riki 135), size 22. Thread 1: UTC 70 Denier, peacock blue. Trailing shuck: Antron yarn, golden brown. Post: Polypropylene floating yarn, white. Rib/thread 2: White Veevus, 16/0. Hackle: Grizzly midge saddle hackle.
