Last fall, Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions and Devin Olsen taught us how to tie a Perdigon Nymph, and now Tim has applied that method to a classic Zebra Midge. Invented by Lees Ferry guide Ted Welling, the Zebra Midge imitates a tiny midge pupa, and its effectiveness–especially for catching large trout–is legendary, and this new way to tie it will make the fly sink faster and stay in the strike zone longer.
If you remember the original Perdigon video, you’ll note that Tim simplifies things a bit here, making use of materials and adhesives found on most tying benches.
Perdigon-Style Zebra Midge
Hook: Barbless jig hook (here, a Lightning Strike JF2), size 18.
Bead: Nickel slotted tungsten bead, 3/32-inch.
Thread: Black, 8/0 or 70-denier.
Weight: Lead-free round wire, .015.
Tail: Coq de Leon fibers.
Rib: Silver Ultra Wire, small.
Body: Black tying thread.
Adhesive #1: UV-cure resin.
Adhesive #2: Sally Hansen Hard as Nails.
Tools you will need:
- Plunger-style hackle pliers
- bodkin
- Cut-off piece of feather
- Styrofoam cup
Do you ever try this in a red thread body color?
Red and black are my primary colors. Purple is always good too