Troutnut.com Fly Fishing for Trout Home
User Password
or register.
Scientific name search:

> > recommended books



This topic is about the True Fly Family Chironomidae

Midges are the most important aquatic insects in some places, especially fertile spring creeks where they are extremely abundant and the current is so slow that it's efficient for trout to surface feed on very tiny insects.

Some midges are large, up to hook size 14, but the majority are size 22 or smaller. The number of genera and species is hopelessly huge for angler entomologists to ever learn, and the identifing characteristics often require slide-mounting tiny parts under high-powered microscopes. Even the most Latin-minded fisherman must slip back to the basics--size and color--to describe his local midge hatches. Read more...

Chironomidae (Midges) True Fly Pupa Chironomidae (Midges) Midge Pupa (3 Pictures)
Male Stictochironomus Midge Adult Male Stictochironomus Midge Adult (11 Pictures)
Rheotanytarsus Midge Larva Rheotanytarsus Midge Larva (6 Pictures)

There are 22 more specimens...

The Discussion

Post Reply
GooseOctober 24th, 2006, 7:01 am
Posts: 77Guys, what books besides Koch & Holbrook Midges books would you recommend for more on how and where midges live? I was reading an exerpt on midges from the book, Spring Creeks by Mike Lawson, and it seemed good. Koch & Holbrooks book is very good, but it seems to lack the how to fish pupa and when; where to find them, etc. I guess I'm looking for these kind of things plus habitat etc.
SofthackleOctober 24th, 2006, 11:58 am
Site Editor
Wellsville, NY

Posts: 540		Hi Goose,
Look for a very nice book called "Tying Small Flies", by Ed Engle (Stackpole Books). I've borrowed a copy from my local Library and found it very good and thorough.

Mark
"I have the highest respect for the skilled wet-fly fisherman, as he has mastered an art of very great difficulty." Edward R. Hewitt

Flymphs, Soft-hackles and Spiders: http://www.troutnut.com/libstudio/FS&S/index.html
SundulaOctober 25th, 2006, 7:18 pm
Littleton, Colorado

Posts: 35		"Tying Small Flies", by Ed Engle is a good book but it is more of a "tying bench" book. It does offer some presentation advice, but it is geared more tword tying the patterns, as the name suggests. The reading I would suggest based upon your question would be the compainion book "Fishing Small Flies", by Ed Engle (Stockpole Books). Pages 136- 142 are specific to the "midge". I feel the whole book is a must read, along with "Tying Small Flies". Just because it is small does not automaticly make it a midge, remember "micro caddis" and mayflies. Another book worth a look is "A Fly Fisher's Guide to the South Platte River", by Pat Dorsey (Pruett Books). This book is specific to the South Platte drainage but I feel there are portions that would offer some valuble advice to you. Pages 118 - 122 are specific to midges, but through out there is good advice on technique. If nothing else it is a beautiful book and well worth the read. I could only imagagine that if I did not already live in Colorado and fish the South Platte 100 days a year it would make me want to.
I assume you posed this question because they will be the only major hatches here shortly, no matter where your home water is I am sure you will find value in the two I suggested and the suggestion made by "Softhackle". Remember to stay paitent this time of year, it will pay off.
-Tight Lines to you both

Quick Reply

You have to be logged in to post on the forum. It's this easy:
Username:          Email:

Password:    Confirm Password:

I am at least 13 years old and agree to the rules.

Related Discussions

TitleRepliesLast Reply
Re: South platte, waterton canyon
In General Discussion by Firemedic		5Sep 6, 2017
by Martinlf
HackleHead site's back online & debugged
In General Discussion by Troutnut		0
Re: Book Review: Tying Small Flies
In Fly Tying by Darkknight		6Oct 6, 2012
by Entoman
Book Exchange at the Art of the Angler Show
In General Discussion by Flymom		1Oct 24, 2008
by Brookyman
Re: Identification
In Rhyacophila fuscula Caddisfly Larva by Litobrancha		4Jul 30, 2019
by Troutnut
Re: 62 classic wet fly patterns
In Fly Tying by Iasgair		1Oct 26, 2018
by PABrownie
Valla’s New Book The Classic Dry Fly Box
In General Discussion by Flymom		0
Re: Thunder Creek flies
In Fly Tying by Dbinmt		13Jun 12, 2020
by Tomlove007
Re: Spring is around the corner!
In Fishing Reports by Sundula		1Feb 8, 2007
by Trowpa
Re: Just got the new edition of Schwiebert's "Nymphs"
In General Discussion by Troutnut		4Sep 13, 2007
by Gene