Adjust to fit the water you're fishing. I generally fish a big bushy dry as an indicator and hang a midge off the bend anywhere from 12-24 inches at the longest. I have found I get plenty of fish on the midge even in deeper water at around 12". I do go longer on occasion but seem to get more tangles when I do. No science to back this, but I think they come up to investigate the dry and if they pass on it, they often see and take the midge.