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.