I am looking for some advice on tying chironomids. Currently using super floss but want a more realistic looking fly. Have heard of better materials that give a better looking fly. I am fishing at Pass Lake, Wa. and have had reasonable success with black and green size 10/12/14 chironomids but could do better. So what material/hooks/colors and tying techniques should I try?
Thanks—Richard
Richard:
The options are endless and only limited by your creativity. Among other things, I use the following for chironomid bodies:
[ul]Thread[/ul]
[ul]Tightly twisted thread, (great ribbed effect)[/ul]
[ul]Wire, single colors & two colors[/ul]
[ul]Quills[/ul]
[ul]Horse hair, natural or dyed[/ul]
[ul]Guard hair[/ul]
[ul]Mono clear & dyed[/ul]
[ul]Thin plastic ribbing[/ul]
I think you get the idea. The great thing about chironomids and midges is it’s all good and all works. I also LOVE to use tiny glass beads on the heads in different colors.
I’m going to be tying some up with “Stretch Cord” …after reading the article “Jelly Nymphs” by James Smith in Fly Fishing Magazine …Spring 2008
I should add that I’ve used black and red Stretch Magic in the past but have ordered the Stretch Cord in multiple colors.
I use pheasant tail fibers for the body. Back rub them against the grain so they get a fuzzy look which makes the body look real. To make the pheasant fibre body almost bullet proof wind the fibres and thread into a rope before wrapping the body. The resulting rope gives the body that nice segmented look. Plus they never come apart. Nothing looks more buggy in my opinion. You can get the pheasant tail feathers in quite a few colors also.
Also Chronimids have prominant white gills in the head area so when using bead heads make them white beads.
I always add a touch of red or deep orange in the butt ala Brian Chan’s red butt chronomid pattern.
For body wrap I use Gudebod Metallic aqua thread. This gives it a bit of shine which chronomids have when rising to the surface with their bubble of air.
I like to use scud hooks as most cronnies I have seen are curved.
…was just out putting away my snow blower for the season and my spider senses told me somebody was talking about chironomids… my favourite.
You know, chironomids are true “flies” as they belong to the Diptera order while mayflys and caddis are not. Hence, those who use them are true fly fishers while those who use those other imposters are not 
There are regional differences in patterns, most importantly divided between western US&Canada and the UK. The regional patterns have pluses/minuses and I use my own patterns developed from what is best from both regions.
UK patterns tend to be tied on strong “grub” hooks, i.e. scud/shrimp hooks while the western patterns tend to be tied on long shank hooks like the TMC2302. Here, the UK wins out because long shank hooks are basically standard hooks with fish losing smaller gapes. I tie most of my chironomids on xtra strong, wide gape/short shank hooks like the Daiichi 1120 & 1150. But strangely enough, I’ve had pretty good luck with the Mustad 3399A wet fly hook.
Western patterns use metal/glass bead heads but in the UK, using a bead makes the fly a “lure” which seems to be a no-no. But they strangely have no issue with cutting strips from the mylar bags that snacks come in and adding these as “cheeks”, i.e. the wing buds. The orange cheese nacho bags seem to be popular.
Both regions favour the use of Sally Hansen’s Hard as Nails for coating the body. Some people use super glue but the fumes from it seem to eat away at my nasal passages so I avoid it.
I recently tied this one up which basically captures what I believe are the key triggers: white head, black thorax, flash in the body & a tinge of red:
Richard, I really like using goose biots. Although they are fragile, they create very nice segments. Also, the biots have a transparent part, so keep in mind that whats under the biot may effect the body color, or shine. Try wrapping some flashy tinsil under the body for a “bubble” effect. Hope it helps. Ken Yamazaki
spanflex
spanflex/tinsel/wire
tinsel/wire
tinsel/wire
thread/wire
Here are about four and a bit pages of patterns.
The Chromie Normand posted (silver tinsel/red wire) is a killer pattern. Tie it with wire or super floss rib. It has outfished most other chironomid patterns for me by a wide margin.
Excellent reply and ideas–thank you all–i will be trying some of these patterns soon.
Richard
Hi,
Here’s a few pattern’s I use for midge nymphs and pupae:
- Jeff