10,000 midge pupa fans can’t be wrong.

What exactly is a chironomid, or midge? It's this thing. There are over 10,000 species of midges in the world, and in many stillwaters, they make up more biomass than all the other insects combined.

Hook: #16-20 curved shank
Thread: Red, or body color
Rib: Silver wire
Head/gills: White Antron fibers

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Savage Flies is a project with the mission of encouraging and teaching fly tying to as many people as possible. The channel is named after one of my western Maryland homewaters, the Savage River. Thanks for stopping by.

[edwardchavez]

Good Morning Sir Matt, Awesome Awesome Awesome.

[jamesvatter]

Midges are flies that are so overlooked by most anglers. Good tie, Matt.

[markfritch]

Was fishing Sheep Creek Indian reservation, in a bay with probably 20 other float tubers. Early on everyone was catching fish. At 9:00 am something changed and nobody was catching anything. After switching off several of my favorite flies without any luck, I decided to get a bite to eat. Most of the tubers left. On my way to the bank I noticed a bushy tree that was loaded with bug activity. As I watched I happened to look down and a chironomid crawled onto my float tube and hatched. I got a real good look at it but had nothing in my fly boxes that resembled it. After a sandwich I duplicated it, tying two and getting back to fishing. I got little ways off the bank and cast towards the bank. I let it sink a little and began twitching it up and sinking again like the one that eventually surfaced and hatched on my tube. I began catching fish on almost every cast. I didn’t know what a chironomid was until a bit after that day, but I can tell you it is very effective and always in my fly boxes.

[martyrothman]

Thanks Matt for the start of another great day

[laytonmarvin]

Great little pattern and super effective. Olives and black are the go-to in the home waters. Thanks Matt for sharing

[randymorris]

I once dropped a full box (100 count) of size 24 Mustad midge hooks on my shag carpet, spent the next few hours with a magnify glass and tweezers getting them back... LOL 🤣

[jimholland]

I love a midge🤓
Good morning Matt☕️☕️
I did not get skunked in NC I got five five Blue Gill🤣🤣🤣 but water snakes everywhere 🧐

[hirkojs]

Awesome job showing how quality flies can still be tied with substitutions and not lose the concept of the original pattern. Mega Thx !

[toddslichter]

Interesting thing I read while in an upper level entomology class, it is estimated that if all bug life died and was placed on land, it would cover to the depth of about 5'-6'...that's a lot of bugs. 😎 (Disclaimer...I am a wildlife biologist, not an entomologist, so am uncertain to the validity of the above. Lol)
Great intro, and great tie. Thanks for sharing, Matt.

[charlieboutin]

Appreciate the scientific narration on midges.🙂 I’ve hardly ever used them but enjoy tying them..just like the ease and way they look.😂 Have a great one Matt! Thanks a lot! 👍🎣

[Wyamike]

Thank you Matt for the video of this pattern. I think I need to tie a few in different colors and give it a try! Everyone be safe, thanks again Matt.

[jamesyates]

Thanks Matt. Great little fish catching bug. Between the zebra midge and this guy you have all you need for lots of fun.

[garrettswoodworx]

Kool pattern and I think it will be a bunch of fun on the local lake. Thanks Matt!

[proflyfisher]

Nice tie Matt! I don't fish midges much, but I do on occasion. Yes a very effective fly. Super easy to tie in a variety of colors. Thanks for sharing have a great day. 😀

[mikemarchacos]

Great fly Matt. I fish it in my camp lake and the trout love them. Great job love your site. What I like best is I’ve been fly fishing for 50 years and carry and fish almost every “old time” pattern you show how to tie. Keep up the great work.

[dennisfretz]

Thanks for the history, nice little pattern . Thanks Matt. Tight lines my friend hope you're catching a lot of trout, I'm doing pretty good . Thanks again Denny

[guytrout]

I like how you do your videos on tying your flies.

[ejmacewan]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION, ,, WELL DONE 👍

[crowdaddy]

I love tying chironomids. I’ve had good fishing using them too. I really like tying one with anti-static bags. It gives a great look. Thanks again Matt.

[russellsherwood]

These work wonders when the pan fish/blue gills aren't bitting, , thanks for the tips and ideas, , now I can save some money