Simple black fly works wonders on trout

I came up with this pattern while getting ready for a backpacking trip into the Selway Crags.

There are small black midges, I was told, that often hatch late in the evening in many of the lakes we planned to visit. I pulled a black ostrich herl off the main stem and tried to strip the fibers from it with my thumbnail as I had seen other tiers do. I just could not get all the fibers off the stem. I finally hit on a plan to use a pencil eraser to remove the fibers. It worked. I could lay the stem on a flat hard surface and just erase the fibers from as much of the stem as I wanted.

I planned to use the stem for the body for this tiny fly. At the time I had no idea if it would work, but I was going to give it a try. The body made from the ostrich herl stem worked very well, but I thought the fly needed a tail. The tail gave me trouble so I just left it off.

I tied the pattern on size No. 18 because at the time that was the smallest hook I had. I dressed the hook shank with tying thread and then coated it with a light covering of head cement. Wrapping the stem into the wet cement gave the pattern the durability I was looking for. The remaining herl left on the stem becomes the hackle. It's not stiff enough to float the fly but gives a good silhouette to the fish and some movement to add to the attraction.

I do not remember who told me of the small black midge hatch on the upper lakes, but we found a hatch almost every evening. The fly was so small that I couldn't see it on the water and had to set the hook every time I saw a fish rise in the area I thought my fly was occupying. Many of those were false alarms, but it was still a great time.

I have used this small black midge in many streams and lakes since then with success. The fly, for me at least, is very difficult to see. But the fish, as they are looking up into the lighter sky, can very easily see the tiny pattern. Because there is no hackle, the fly will not float very high. Instead, it normally suspends in the water film and becomes easy pickings for fish.

I was floating the Elk River in British Columbia, Canada, one afternoon with a friend who guides part time on the river.

"Oh, look, the fish are bulging," my friend excitedly said.

I had no idea what he was talking about, but he quickly rowed to the closest bank and we got off the raft.

"Put on something small and black," were his instructions.

I remembered the small black midge and tied one on. I was still not sure what he meant when he said the fish were bulging, but I was going to find out. Then I saw what he was talking about. I had seen this before on the river, but had no idea what it was. It looked like you put both hands underwater then clapped them together to cause a bulge on the surface. My friend explained the fish were taking a hatching insect just under the surface that caused the bulging.

I cast my small black midge into the area where the bulging was occurring, not knowing just what to expect. It did not take long to find out what he was so excited about. The first hit was so violent I broke the fish and the fly off. Luckily, I had more and quickly tied one on my tippet. The fishing was fast and furious for a short time and then just died.

I had also seen this bulging occur on the Clark Fork River in Montana, but had no idea what it was, so I just floated on past without even fishing in the area. I now watch for this disturbance as I fish lakes and streams. I also keep several size No. 18 black midges in my box at the ready.

Last lines

"Be patient and calm - for no one can catch fish in anger."

- Herbert Hoover.

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Hyatt is an avid fly tier who lives in Lewiston. He can be contacted at city@lmtribune.com.