TUBE MIDGE LARVA
"The tube midge is a simple pattern that should be adapted for imitating the prolific midge hatches that occur on many trout streams and lakes. It's a great way to imitate any speciies of midge simply by varying the hook size, the color of the thread and the translucent or opaque tubing. It can be tied on any hook that will sllow the Larva Lace to be stretched over the eye. On hook sizes where the hook eye is too large, simply wrap the Larva Lace tubing on the hook shank rather than stretch it over. Variations include thread ribbing, short tails, peacock herl thorax, or a Z-lon tuft wing.
Materials List:
Hooks: Small eye larva or nymph hook, sizes 22 to 12.
Thread: 6/0 or 8/0 thread (use color you want as ribbing).
Tail: Optional: small, short fluff of marabou.
Body: Larva Lace tubing (desired body color).
Ribbing: Tying thread.
Collar: Peacock herl or dark dubbing.
Tying Instructions:
1. Place hook in vise. Secure thread to hook shank. Start at the eye and wrap backwards evenly, right down to hook shank, well into the bend of the hook to create the curved body shape common on the natural. Optional: Tie in a short, piece of marabou fluff to imitate midge pupa.
2. Cut a section of Larva Lace 2/3 to 3/4 the body size. Slide one end of the tubing over the hook eye and push onto hook shank. Larva Lace is stretchy but larger hooks simply have too large an eye. Find a hook with a small eye. Push the Larva Lace back to where you want the end of the body.
3. Start wrapping the thread over the very end of the tubing while holding it in place. Make one secure wrap as close to the end of the tubing as possible and then start spiraling the thread evenly towards the hook eye. You are imitating the segmentations of the natural insect this way. Vary the Larva Lace tubing color and the thread color to get a color close to the natural. If you look at the natural bug with a magnifying glass you'll see the colors you need to use. Black, brown, red and olive are common colors.
4. Continue to spiral wraps to the end of the tubing and secure the end of the tubing with several wraps of thread. If the tubing crowds the hook eye, you may want to unwind the thread, slide the Larva Lace partially back off the hook and trim some off, then redo body.
5. Get dubbinhg material ready by fluffing it out into a thin strip. Fold the end of the dubbing over the thread and then press hard between thumb and forefinger as you twist it onto the thread. If you have problems, tacky dubbing wax on the thread or your fingers will help. Too much dubbing is a common mistake. Make sure you use mere wisps of dubbing twisted to the thread for small flies. An inch of thinly dubbed thread is all that is needed here.
6. Wrap the firmly twisted dubbing to create a collar just slightly thicker than the body. If you have too much dubbing on thread, just pull off the excess. An option is to tie in peacock herl as a collar, instead of dubbing . . . Dubbing is more natural, herl is a good attractor. Leave the collar off for a thin, basic larva pattern. Make a smooth head by pulling vack any loose dubbing fibers and make several thread wraps. Tie off using several half hitches or with a whip finisher, and add a drop of head cement.
