Here is the fly pattern sheet for the Driscoll Midge.
Materials
Hook:
TMC 3761, Dai Riki 280, #14 – 12
Thread:
8/0 black
Bead:
3/32 black Spirit River bead
Tail:
Pearl Krystal Flash
Body:
Peacock herl spun in dubbing loop
Rib
Pearl Krystal Flash
Counter rib:
Small red UTC wire
Wingcase:
Natural pheasant tail
Gills:
White Zelon
Thorax:
Natual gray, Ostrich Mini Plume and peacock herl spun in a loop
Directions:
- Bead your hook, start your thread mid shank with a few wraps. Tie on one piece of Pearl Krystal Flash for the tail, one-half the length of the hook shank and leave the front end of the flash untrimmed for your rib.
- Take a 4 inch section of Small Red UTC wire and lay this wire over the length of the hook shank and tie it in, with two thread wraps, tie the herl in by the tip. Take the herl and form a dub loop. Bring the thread forward to the bead. Now wrap the dub loop forward and tie down behind the bead.
- Wrap flash rib forward making sure that your wraps lay between the wraps of herl. Wrap counter rib once under the tail to give it a lift. Then wrap the counter rib forward evenly and tie off. Pinch a small bunch of Natural Pheasant Tail and tie in wing case. Pull the wing case forward, tying off right behind the bead.
- Figure 8 a section of White Zelon behind the bead. Pull wing case rearward, over the top of the figure 8 wraps, and tie it off behind the strand of White Zelon. Wind thread back approximately ¼ the length of the shank and stop.
- Tie in a strand of peacock herl and ostrich plume by the tips. Create another dubbing loop and spin up the two materials. Move thread forward and position thread behind the strand of Zelon. Wind herl/ostrich dubbing loop forward three – six wraps to form a full thorax. Tie the loop off on top of the hook shank with two thread wraps.
- Pull the wing case forward over the thorax, sweep the strand of Zelon rearward, and tie down the wingcase behind the bead. Pull the wing case rearward one more time and tie down. Whip finish twice and trim thread.
Used with permission of Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone, MT.
This is “The” fly for Hebgen Lake from ice out in May until it covers the lake again in November. It works whether the fish are rising or cruising looking for midges….which they always seem to do. It is big, it is bad, it is a tough fly to tie it is indestructible, and it always works.
Personal tying note: 7/64 bead for size 12
