Zebra Midge
The Zebra Midge is the most popular midge pupa pattern on American tailwaters, developed on the San Juan River in New Mexico. Its slim thread body and fine silver wire ribbing create a segmented appearance that perfectly imitates the ascending midge pupa. Fish it on a dropper under a dry fly or deep on an indicator rig. Available in black/silver, red/copper, and olive/gold variations.
- Type
- nymph (Midge)
- Hook sizes
- #18–22
- Target species
- trout
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Best seasons
- spring, summer, fall, winter
Materials
- hook: Scud or curved hook #18–22
- thread: Black, red, or olive 10/0 (forms the body)
- body: Tying thread, smooth
- ribbing: Fine silver, copper, or gold wire
- thorax: Small black tungsten bead or black dubbing
- bead: Small tungsten bead (optional, 1.5mm)
Tying steps
- Slide a 1.5mm tungsten bead onto a size 18–22 scud hook; mount and start 10/0 black thread.
- Wrap a smooth thread base from behind the bead to the bend and back.
- Wrap the thread back to the bend building a slim tapered body; keep the thread flat and smooth.
- Tie in fine silver wire at the bend.
- Wind the thread forward again, building up the tapered body to behind the bead.
- Counter-wrap the silver wire in 7–8 evenly spaced spirals over the body.
- Secure the wire with 3–4 tight wraps and helicopter it off cleanly.
- Build a tiny head with thread against the bead; whip finish and apply UV resin.