Midge Season

Even though out here in the West it's still very much Winter, many tailwaters, spring creeks, and lower elevation waters should start to show signs of life in the next several weeks. Midges are usually the first really good hatches on these waters. Here's a hatch timeline to follow for fishing early season midges:

In the morning it will probably be cold so fish won't want to move far to eat. Start with larval patterns fished near the bottom in deep holding water. I like Rubber midges, Ghost midges, and Zebra midges.

As the water warms, fish will start to move to seams and other good feeding lies. Fish them with midge pupae and emergers like WD 40s.

As it gets warmer near mid day watch for noses breaking through the surface and go to parasol midges, dry midge emergers, and eventually single adult midge patterns. Don't get in too big a hurry to fish dry midges, even though you may be seeing fish on the surface, you'll probably still catch more just under the surface until they really get going.

In the early afternoon midges will start to form mating clusters and trout rises will start to be more splashy. Switch to midge cluster patterns like Griffith's gnats, Double midges, and even small Renegades.

As the day and the hatch winds down some fish will move toward slow slicks, eddies, and foam lines to feed on spent midges. Flies like the Real Midge and CDC midges will often fool these picky feeders.

Following this time line should help you to maximize your chances of capitalizing on early season midge hatches and will hopefully lead to some of your best fishing days of the year.