How to tie the Zebra Midge

Zebra Midge

The Zebra Midge imitates a midge pupa.  It is very easy to tie and it is an absolute killer pattern in still water, as well as rivers dead drifted near the bottom, but it is effective virtually anywhere in the water column imitating an emerging midge.  It's also a pattern that works any time of year, since midge pupa are always around.  There are many popular color variations of the zebra midge, including the tiger midge, tied with a copper bead and copper ribbing instead of silver.  Some people also tie in a little white antron yarn in front of the bead to imitate gills.     

Material's needed:

Hook:  TMC 2487 scud hook size #14-22

Bead:  Silver, or nickle, tungsten, or brass

Thread:  UNI-thread black 8/0

Body:  UNI-thread black 8/0 

Rib:  Fine silver wire

Pick up a bead with your hackle pliers as shown in the picture.  Notice the bead has two different size holes.  Put the bead on the hook so the smaller diameter hole is up against the eye of the hook, and the larger diameter hole is facing the bend of the hook.

Start your thread just behind the bead.

Lay the silver wire rib against the top of the hook shank with the tip of the silver wire inside of the bead.

Cover the wire with a single, thin layer of thread wraps.  Wrap to just past the hook bend.

Wrap your thread forward to just behind the bead.

Keep your thread wraps to an absolute minimum to avoid a bulky body.

Wrap the rib forward, and tie it off with your thread.

 Whip finish.

You can apply some UV resin to really improve the flies durability.

Below are some midges I tied in red and black on the TMC 206BL caddis pupa hook.