Umpqua Blindside Midge Easdon Fly

Overview

Jon Easdon developed the Blindside Midge about 20 years ago while fishing technical western waters. It imitates the emerging stage of a midge, when the insect hangs near the surface and is easiest for trout to eat.

Midges hatch all year on tailwaters and spring creeks, and trout there can be very selective. The Blindside Midge has also done well during Blue-Winged Olive hatches. You can fish it with any nymphing method or hang it as a dropper below a dry or hopper.

How to Fish It

• Dry-dropper: hang it 12 to 18 inches below a small dry to catch fish eating emergers.
• Indicator nymphing: fish it as the trailing fly behind a slightly heavier nymph.
• Tailwaters: fish it in slow runs and flats where trout sip emerging midges.
• Tippet: 6X or 7X for these small sizes.

Choosing Color and Size

Black matches the dark midges common on many tailwaters and shows a strong silhouette. Size 20 matches larger midges and BWO emergers; 22 is for small midges and pressured fish.