Overview

The Zebra Midge began as Ted Welling's pattern for the midges of Lees Ferry, and Umpqua's version adds a tungsten bead. A slim thread body ribbed with wire gives the segmented, striped look that names the fly.

Midges hatch in almost every month and are a staple food for trout in tailwaters and lakes, especially in winter. The tungsten bead pulls this small fly down quickly so it stays near the bottom for more of the drift. It is a simple pattern that catches big trout as well as small ones.

Euro Specs

• Bead: Tungsten.
• Role: Dropper or light anchor on fine tailwater rigs.

How to Fish It

• Indicator rig: dead drift it under an indicator, often as the bottom fly of a two- or three-fly rig.
• Tight line: fish it on a Euro setup in slow riffles and deeper runs.
• Dry-dropper: hang it below a small dry in slower water.
• Stillwater: suspend it under an indicator for midge-feeding trout in lakes.

Choosing Color and Size

Black is the classic color and works everywhere. Red matches the blood-red midge larvae common in tailwaters.

Most midges run size 18 to size 22: use 18 for larger midges and more weight, 20 as the everyday size, and 22 for tiny midges and pressured fish.