Root Beer Midge Fly Tying Instructions by Michael Falkoff

The Root Beer Midge was a pattern from David Knowles. He developed the patter along his friend Mel O'Connor. This and his Ruby Midge have become common flies in Arkansas shops, my home waters. He stated that he studied a book by Don Holbrook and Ed Koch called "Midge Magic." They were tying midges with embroidery floss with holographic tinsel. The Ruby Midge was born. Shortly afterwards the Root Beer Midge followed. Knowles is quoted as saying "I probably haven't fished other flies enough because I'm fishing the Root Beer Midge almost all of the time."

I changed one thing on this patter. Instead of using embroidery floss, I tied this with Coats and Clark in Summer Brown. I have the embroidery floss for the Ruby, but not the Root Beer. So Coats and Clark it was. This still has been very successful for me.

Hook: TMC 101
Thread: Sheer 14/0 in Brown
Tinsel: UTC Holographic Size Medium in Brown
Rib: Coats and Clark in Summer Brown
Bead: Copper Tungsten Sized to Hook