Bodkin / Patterns

Led Midge

Midge · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Standard midge/nymph hook (e.g. Umpqua XC220), size 18, 18
  • Thread Black 8/0 (UNI)

Materials

  • Craft cord / Bonnie braid (inner strand only) White uni stretch (one 6mm strand)
  • UV marker (invisible ink)
  • Bonnie braid (body) Royal blue (5-6 fibers)
  • Krystal Flash (segmentation) UV blue flash (1 strand)
  • Head cement / nail polish (finish)

How to tie it

  1. Start black 8/0 thread just behind the eye with only a few wraps.
  2. Pull a single white strand from the craft cord (Bonnie braid). Lay it across the shank behind the eye and lock it with two crossing (X) wraps plus one wrap on each side so it sits perpendicular; keep the wraps sparse. Trim both ends even to make a short white bow-tie.
  3. Touch a dab of UV invisible-ink marker onto each side of the bow-tie, then briefly pass a lighter close to (not touching) each end to melt the tips into small round balls, forming the two eye/wing-case balls.
  4. Break out 5-6 fibers of royal-blue Bonnie braid and lash them on with X-wraps between and behind the two balls, using minimal wraps.
  5. Tie in one strand of UV-blue Krystal Flash the same way with a couple of wraps between the balls.
  6. Wrap the longer blue Bonnie braid back to the bend over the flash, then forward again to build a slight taper, come up between the two balls, tie off and trim.
  7. Stretch the Krystal Flash and wrap it forward in about five or six open spiral turns to segment the body, come up between the balls, X-wrap once or twice and trim, leaving a little flash showing between the balls.
  8. Coat the body with a thin head cement or hard nail polish for durability, whip finish behind the eye, and briefly pass the flame near the head to clean up stray fibers.

Tying videos

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