Hooks for Chironomids

[lastchance]

What brand hook and style do you guys use for tying midge pupa? I think the general size for midges in PA is from 18-22. I've seen them down to size 30, but I won't go that small. HA! Ha! I tie them on a straight shank hook because I've never seen a curved bodied midge pupa in the water. Am I correct?

[JohnScott]

My preference is the Dai-Riki 135 scud hook. It's a 1X heavy / 1X short hook so you get a bit bigger gap and a bit more weight. I haven't actually seen a midge pupa in the water, but I have seen a bunch of trouts that ate midge larva and pupa patterns tied on the 135.

John

[xfishcop]

I'm like John I like a wide gap hook, particularly in the smaller sizes. I usually tie on the Tiemco 2457 caddis pupae hook, they are 2x wide and 2x heavy. I like the heavier hook because I want the fly deep in the water. I have also tied on the straight shank hook too. At times I will tie on an up-eye hook too, like the Tiemco 206BL.
I really don't think that it makes that much difference. Just tie some up and let the fish be your guide.
Dick xfishcop

[planettrout]

I use a variety of different hooks for Midge Pupa including, but not limited to:

TMC 2487
TMC 2488
TMC 200R
TMC 206 BL
TMC 100
TMC 101
Daiichi 1130
Daiichi 1250
Daiichi 1153
Daiichi 1270
Daiichi 1273
Daiichi 1140
Mustad C49S
Gamakatsu C12B

A few of the above, as patterns, are here:

https://planettrout.wordpress.com/20...being-diptera/

and here:

https://planettrout.wordpress.com/20...pt-1-3-part-i/

I'm workin' on these today which can go on Daiichi 1153, #18 or Gamakatsu C12B's, #18-#20:



PT/TB

[DUB]

Dai-Riki 135 down to size 22.
Mustad 3906 down to size 20

[ScottP]

I like the Dai Riki 135's, too, for all the reason's John and others mentioned; I also like the price and quality. I tried some Dai Riki 125 emerger hooks because I was out of the 135's in a particular size (it was also 9 PM at my campsite and the shops in Craig had closed) but, for the beadhead Zebra midges I was tying, wasn't real happy with the results. The eye on the hook was too small to keep the bead from slipping off so I had to wrap a head of thread in front of the bead; they were ugly looking flies, but the fish didn't seem to care.

Regards,
Scott

[JohnScott]

The Dai-Riki 125 is a straighteye 2X short emerger hook. Great for some smaller flies with the relatively huge gap, but not so good, as Scott points out, with beads.

[DG]

I preferred TMC 2488s, but I try real hard not to fish midges any more. Dry midges are on 900BL.

[Donald Nicolson]

There is no specific hook for Chironomids (Buzzers) and not all buzzers
have beads. If a hook is not good with beads and you want to dress a beaded buzzer,
use a hook that works.
I have used TMC2487 and similar hooks in various sizes from size 10
down to 20. I have usually fished buzzers on stillwaters, lochs, reservoirs etc.
and the majority of the flies I dressed and used were on curved hooks
of this type, with some exceptions, the Diawl Bach in particular.
Here in the UK when fishing buzzers on stillwater, it is usual to use at least
two flies, a beaded on the point and a non-weighted, or even a floater on the dropper.
If a heavy fly is on the point, an indicator of some kind is used.
Have a look here :-
http://donaldnicolson.webplus.net/page7.html

and here
http://globalflyfisher.com/patterns/buzzer/

http://globalflyfisher.com/patterns/janbuzzers/

[DUB]

"Chironimids".....That takes in a LOT of different sized critters from around the globe. I dont fish Still waters so for me, size 18-22 works best. Rarely do I tye anything more extravagant than a Thread Midge.