How to Tie the Rojo Midge
| Part | Material |
|---|---|
| Hook | TMC 200R, sizes 16–22 |
| Thread | UNI 8/0 light olive |
| Bead | X-small red glass bead |
| Gills | Ultra-Floss dental floss |
| Rib | Fine chartreuse Lagartun wire |
| Abdomen | Light olive tying thread |
| Collar | Bright green dyed peacock herl |
Step-by-Step Instructions
- 1
Gill tuft
Put the bead on the hook, leaving it back. Attach thread at the eye and secure brushed dental floss projecting forward. Finish and cut the thread.
- 2
Bead and body
Slide the bead over the thread wraps. Restart thread behind it, tie in chartreuse wire, and build a slender tapered abdomen.
- 3
Rib
Spiral the wire forward to the bead and tie it off.
- 4
Collar
Wind two green peacock herls into a short collar behind the bead and secure.
- 5
Finish
Whip finish and trim the forward gill tuft to about one-quarter shank length. This fly has no tail.
How to Fish the Rojo Midge
The Rojo Midge is most effective when fished in or just below the surface film during active midge emergence periods. The red glass bead creates excellent visibility and often triggers strikes when trout are selectively feeding on emerging pupae. Fish it as a dropper below a dry fly or under a small indicator in slow tailwater sections. Use 5X-6X tippet and present it with a dead drift, occasionally giving subtle twitches to mimic a struggling emerger. Most productive in sizes #18-22. This pattern excels on Colorado and Wyoming tailwaters during winter and early spring midge hatches. The red coloration makes it particularly effective in clear water when trout are being selective and the bright color helps differentiate it from natural pupae, often triggering aggressive strikes.
