Fly Fishing With Midges: A Beginner’s Guide to Consistent Midge Success

You're trying to present small flies on 6X tippet without spooking trout that are selectively sipping bugs you can barely see. Your hands are numb. Your indicator barely moves. And you're wondering if fishing a midge is even worth it.

Here's the thing: when mayflies and caddis disappear for months, midges keep hatching. Year-round. Even in 35-degree water. So, if you want to catch more fish in winter, you need to know how to fish midges the right way.

In this guide, we'll break down the top fly patterns, rigging techniques that won't snap your tippet, and best strategies that fool selective winter trout. You'll learn how to spot rising trout and fish midge adult patterns when the water turns cold.

But before we get into it, you need to understand what midges are and why trout like to eat them. Let's start!

Midges are tiny aquatic insects that hatch year-round, even in freezing water. This makes them one of the most reliable cold-weather foods for trout. Despite their small size (usually hook-sized 18-24 or even tinier), these tiny flies hatch in huge numbers.

That said, trout know exactly where their next meal is coming from, so when fly fishing in cold weather, midges are simply your best bet.

The best midge patterns include Zebra Midge, WD-40, and Disco Midge. Keeping your midge box simple makes winter fishing less overwhelming. The patterns below cover every stage of the hatch and help you fish two flies effectively when needed.

The Zebra Midge is our top favorite fish midge flies. It looks like a midge pupa fly, which trout feed on most. Here's what works:

• Sizes 18-22 in olive, black, and red
• Fish them deep with split shot
• Hang as a dropper below a dry fly

Why it works: Simple design, sparse profile, gets down fast. It's usually the first midge pattern we tie on every winter trip.

When trout refuse Zebra Midges, WD-40 (not the lubricant) is your second fly to use.

What we like about WD-40 is that in clear winter water, its subtle look beats flashier flies when trout get picky. You’ll surely catch fish that other fly fishermen might miss. We recommend using sizes 18-22 in olive and black, as they work well in ultra-clear tailwaters.

When visibility drops, and you can’t use a Zebra Midge, the Disco Midge’s flashy tungsten bead triggers strikes in deeper runs or murky water.

We’ve found the black and red in sizes 18-20 perform the best, while olive works better in clearer conditions. Use this as your point fly when fishing deeper runs or stained water.

When to use it: Stained water, deep runs, or when trout are holding 4+ feet deep.

The RS2 mimics insects rising to hatch, or midge emerger, making it perfect for catching trout near the surface. What makes it effective? Its sparse profile and trailing shuck copy midge species perfectly. You can use it in clear winter water where picky trout inspect every fly closely.

The RS2 usually comes in olive, black, and gray in sizes 18-22.

Make the Top Secret Midge your backup plan when trout refuse everything else. Here's what works:

• Sizes 18-22, slim profile
• Works in slow pools
• Segmented body that looks like real emergers and pupae

Note: Watch for subtle takes. Winter trout sip these gently. You don’t want to miss catching a fish just because you didn’t feel a sudden pull.

For picky trout that have seen everything, use Pure Midge. It imitates pure midge larvae patterns, with a clean silhouette that works best in clear water where fish inspect every detail.

Here's where to use it: Gin-clear spring creeks where trout refuse anything flashy. Have them in black and olive, sizes 20-24, for picky trout that have seen every other midge pattern.

Getting the midge to the right depth is something experienced fly anglers have mastered. But if you’re a beginner, here are 4 things to keep in mind:

• Larger flies (18-20) sink more slowly.
• Use a micro split shot to reach the bottom quickly.
• Place your split shot 6-12 inches above the fly. This is to get down fast without spooking fish.
• Winter trout often feed inches off the bottom, not halfway down.

Quick test: If you're not occasionally ticking bottom, you're not deep enough. Add weight.

Make sure you have enough flies to imitate all 4 life stages of a midge lifecycle: larva, pupa, emerger, and adult. For pupae patterns like Zebra Midges and WD-40s, carry sizes 18-22 in black, red, and olive. Keep at least 6 of each color since you’ll lose flies the more you fish.

This setup lets you switch easily between subsurface rigs and fishing dry flies when trout rise.

Storage: Organize your growing collection in a double-sided fly box that securely holds tiny size 20-24 hooks. Stock your winter fly box with this 60-fly assortment that includes essential midge patterns alongside other cold-weather trout flies.

Ensuring you have proper gear makes winter midge fishing less frustrating. Here’s what you need to present tiny flies effectively and hook more trout:

Fine tippet makes tiny midges look natural. This matters when trout inspect every fly closely (and they do in winter). Here's your tippet guide:

Midge Size	Tippet Size	Breaking Strength	When to Use
18	5X	4.4 lbs	Standard winter conditions
20-22	6X nylon tippet	3.3 lbs	Clear water, selective fish
22-24	7X	2.2 lbs	Gin-clear water, ultra-picky trout

After landing each fish, don’t forget to check your fly fishing tippet and leaders for abrasion, or you’ll lose the next one. Browse our selection of premium nylon and fluorocarbon tippets for high-quality gear that’s perfect for changing fishing situations.

Indicators or tight-line nymphing rigs are used to detect strikes. In slow water, we use indicators to track drift, while tight-lining is for fast runs for direct contact. We also find that small yarn or 1/2-inch foam indicators perform better than large bobbers for delicate presentations.

Tying size 20-24 midges in cold weather tests anyone’s eyes, especially if you’re over 40 or still a beginner getting used to fishing. A magnifying glass or illuminated nippers/clippers makes threading fine tippet through tiny hooks far easier and faster, even with numb fingers.

Other essential tools to keep in your vest or pack:

• 6" Stainless Steel Forceps: Grip tiny hooks and remove flies quickly
• Zinger: Keep your nippers or forceps within reach instead of dropping them
• Zinger with a Tape Measure: This is to retract the tools back to your vest
• Leader Straightener: Removes coils from the tippet so your flies drift naturally
• Strike Fish Indicators: Signal subtle winter takes that you’d otherwise miss

Save our complete fly fishing tools and indicators, so you’re fully prepared on the water.

We all want more winter trout in our nets, but it might not come easily for beginners. So here are a few basic fishing techniques to get you started:

Midges thrive in calm water where trout can easily sip them off the surface or just below it.

Here's the thing: productive midge water looks almost too calm. If you're looking at it thinking "that water looks dead," you're probably in the right spot. Unlike typical nymph water with broken riffles and fast current, the best midge water looks flat and slow.

Where to focus:

• Pool tailouts (transition zones)
• Soft eddies (calm pockets)
• Runs 2-4 feet deep with walking-speed current

That calm water is exactly where you want to be.

To determine what trout are eating, observe the water before you start casting.

Here's your quick diagnosis:

See a rising fish breaking the surface? They're probably eating adult midges on top. Tie on a Griffith's Gnat. Got subsurface flashes or swirls without surface breaks? They are likely feeding on pupae or larvae below. Go with a Zebra Midge or RS2.

Pro Tip: If you see trout rise or swirl without fully breaking the surface, switch to a dry dropper rig. This setup covers both midge emergers without constantly re-rigging.

Aggressive hook sets snap 6X-7X tippet or rip tiny hooks out of a trout’s mouth. We’ve made this mistake plenty of times when we were just starting. Instead, use a smooth lift of your rod tip, almost like you’re picking up slack.

This becomes even more critical when fishing size 22-24 midges in gin-clear water, where 7X nylon tippet (2.2 lb test) is essential, though it requires extra care during hooksets. Compared to typical nymphing setups, midge hooksets feel more like gently tightening a line.

Look, everyone makes mistakes when they're learning midge fishing. We sure did.

But if you can avoid these top 3 common errors, you'll catch way more fish right from the start.

Let's break down what's killing your fishing success rate.

Here's where it goes wrong: Using heavy split shot and weighted flies that sink like rocks and drag through the drift.

Midges need natural drift, and a heavy split shot and weighted flies ruin that. Use a micro split shot instead in water 2-4 feet deep with a gentle current. And then, give your flies 3-5 seconds to sink before mending to allow them to drift naturally at the trout’s feeding level.

Are you switching flies every 5 minutes when you don't get a take? It's what you should fix.

Switching flies constantly wastes time. Trout respond more to drift quality than pattern, so our tip is to stick with a Zebra Midge and adjust depth and weight first before swapping flies. Organize your flies in these waterproof fly boxes so you can access them quickly.

Winter midge fishing requires patience and precision. But it works. The best way to start is to use proven patterns like Zebra Midges in sizes 18-22, use 5X-6X tippet, and focus on slow tailouts where trout feed confidently.

You can also adjust your depth before changing flies, and remember that gentle hooksets protect fine tippet. Build your winter fly fishing setup with our complete 5/6-weight starter kit that includes everything you need, from rod to flies, to help you get started.

We'll see you on the water!