SAN JUAN MIDGE - Fly of the Week - June 21, 2010

SAN JUAN MIDGE

Awhile ago I was asked to submit some fly patterns for the ?Old Flies? section of the website and I had to reluctantly turn down the request for articles because I am not a writer nor do I aspire to be a writer. I also don?t have that much to say and the research into ?Old Flies? goes way beyond what my personal library holds in information. I also live in a small town and I personally know my ?town? library is not stocked full of old fly tying books. There is the internet but that too is limited in finding ?old? patterns and their histories.

Norm, Nice job! Excellent pattern and very nicely done. It's a pattern that will end up in my midge box for sure:^)

njt

thanks, hope everybody else likes it.

could be more articles coming if they do.

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Originally Posted by NJTroutbum

Norm, Nice job! Excellent pattern and very nicely done. It's a pattern that will end up in my midge box for sure:^)

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Ditto...and what a nice open mind on other possibilities...Seems it would qualify for the Too Simple series.....I may try some punch yarn too.

For the sake of discussion...I'm struck by the amount of zlon tied in and needed to be trimmed ...probably for the sake of illustration....but I would point out... a couple of loose wraps and then pull the zlon towards the hook eye and then ty in.... too minimize the amount necessary trim.

Keep them coming, Norm:cool:

saved the fly to my favorites, It meets my criteria for favorite flies, simple and looks like it will catch fish.

Eric

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ducksterman

Ditto...and what a nice open mind on other possibilities...Seems it would qualify for the Too Simple series.....I may try some punch yarn too.

For the sake of discussion...I'm struck by the amount of zlon tied in and needed to be trimmed ...probably for the sake of illustration....but I would point out... a couple of loose wraps and then pull the zlon towards the hook eye and then tire in.... too minimize the amount necessary trim.

Keep them coming, Norm:cool:

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duck,

i'm just an oldfart stuck in his way of tying things. :)

i've tied it that way for so long its second nature to me. and i really dont waste that much

of course theres different way of tying in the wing to cut down on waste. tie it in as you all see fit.

"thanks, hope everybody else likes it.

could be more articles coming if they do."

I really like it and I know that Al would have loved how simple it is to tie! You keep more articles coming as far as I am concerned!

Norm, very nice tie. simple. Have you tried it on a scud hook?

Very nice clean tye Norm. I sometimes tie a very similar "emerger" version of this fly with CDC for a wing to imitate emerging blackfky pupae.

aa

I'll be heading down there for a week, next month. I'll spin a few up and if they're in play, I'll post my results with them. if they're not, they'll get used eventually.

Regards, Dave

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Originally Posted by soloman

Norm, very nice tie. simple. Have you tried it on a scud hook?

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yes

tied on a scud hook and a bead up front results in a fly called a "shop vac" from blue ribbon guys out in yellowstone

http://www.danica.com/flytier/nfrechette/shop_vac.htm

here is the san juan midge in gray

http://www.danica.com/flytier/nfrech...midge_gray.htm

and using turkey tail fibers

http://www.danica.com/flytier/nfrech...dge_turkey.htm

Very nice simple construction pattern. I'll be having a play with this as well. Fingers crossed I'll actually see some water at some point to get to try it too! I know a small lake where it might be fun to try around the weeds.

- Jeff

This was my kind of fly, simple to tie. Tied some up and went out on Tuesday.
Found some calm water and tried the fly. I can tell you that bluegill also like this fly.
Thanks for the pattern and please share any others you have.

Rick

Your time line for the fly starting on the SJ and ending up in Denver is right about the same time I was introduced to that pattern. I would guess it was maybe 1986 or 87 for me. By the way the person that introduced me to your SJ midge was also from Denver.
I was shown the pattern without a wing on it. I added a foam wing to it a few years later.
The SJ Midge was the pattern responsibe for my first 20/20 fish and 22/22 fish. I tied them with black, brown, olive, tan, and red heads/thread, and have yet to find a bad color combination.
Thanks for the blast from the past Normand.