Tremendous midge, caddis and stone fly hatches in south central Pa...

FAOL Community Fly Anglers Online
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I have noted over the past few days that many of our lakes and streams here in south central Pennsylvania are putting up tremendous midge, caddis and stone fly hatches. Also seeing some small march browns too.

The stones, caddis and browns I am seeing look to be in the 16-20 range. The midges seem to be about size 22 and smaller. I took several gills on a size 20 black and white moose main mosquito with a light grizzly hackle, dry fly style, last night. This happened on Holman Lake at Little Buffalo State Park during a very heavy midge hatch at sundown. I literally had a black loud surrounding me.

I have some little black stone flies tied up but I am thinking that I need to ty up some size 20 elk hair caddis and some size 22 black midge. The midges appeared to have white wings. I was thinking a Black thread or lightly dubbed body and grizzly or white hackle wing tied spent style for the midges.

If you have a favorite pattern for these small midges I would like to hear it. Thanks folks.

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I know this isn’t revolutionary, but I favor a Griffith’s Gnat. 2nd choice (esp. for smutting risers) is Al’s Rat. The Rat works deep, too.

I hooked a big wild brown on a #22 GG on Saturday. It was bank-sipping midges and the GG was the first thing I went to.

I played it for a while and got it to within a foot of the net when the hook pulled free.

I’m guessing it was 22"+. Broke my heart when the line went slack.

And, for all you lovers of gossimer tippets: I used 6x (not 8x or lighter). Use longer, not lighter, tippets for drag free presentation. No need to kill trout by fighting them all day.

BTW: Same stuff happening in NEPA + #18-20 baetis here and there.