In this week’s episode of Tying Tuesdays, watch as Brady Laehr ties the Reaper Midge! Are you a tailwater junkie? Do you enjoy fishing for big midge fed trout during cold winter months while the fair weather fishers are warm at home tying flies? If so, you need some Reaper Midges in your fly box. This pattern created by Josh Williams of Dead Drift Outfitters has become a staple in my midge dry box. It is simple to tie and offers some versatility in how it is fished. The flash abdomen and wing are not only eye-catching to fishers but also the fish. The build on this fly with a traditional palmered hackle allows you to either cure it heavily with floatant to keep it riding high or if need be you can go light on the floatant and allow it to dip just under the surface film as an emerging midge. Either way, this pattern fishes great when midges are on the move.

Prefer to read? Step-by-step write-up on the AvidMax blog.