Lace Midge Emerger

Fly: Bruce Salzburg, Photograph: Hans Weilenmann

Hook: TMC 2487 or 2457, size 16-22
Thread: To match the natural, 8/0
Abdomen: Clear vinyl lace (see instructions)
Shell back/gills: White CDC
Thorax: Hare dubbing to match the natural

Tying instructions:
  1. Start the thread behind the eye and wrap back in touching turns well around the bend. (If you have a rotary vise, it greatly eases the process if you turn the vise 90 degrees so that the thread will hang where you stopped, rather than sliding down the hook bend. If not, you can reposition the hook in the vise at this point to prevent the thread from sliding around.)
  2. Trim the end of the vinyl tubing at an oblique angle, so it looks like the tip of a hypodermic needle. Trap the tip of the vinyl with the tying thread, and tie it down firmly. Continue wrapping forward to about 1/3 shank length back from the eye.
  3. Stretching the vinyl to achieve the diameter you want to properly proportion the fly, wrap forward in touching turns to the thread. Tie it down frimly with two wraps, then take two security wraps around the shank only. (The vinyl is under tension and will unwrap if allowed.) Pull the tag end to stretch it a bit, and trim it close. Immediately take a few more wraps over the trimmed end of the vinyl.
  4. Tie in one CDC feather, tips toward the bend, wrap forward a few turns, and trim the quill and butt of the feather.
  5. Dub a tight ball-shaped thorax.
  6. Pull the tips of the CDC feather over the top of the thorax, and tie down behind the eye with several firm wraps. Whip finish under the tips of the feather, so that it stands up a bit.
  7. Trim the tips of the CDC about three eye lengths long.
You can also use colored vinyl tubing for the abdomen. Stalcup's "Micro" size can stretch fine enough to tie a size 26.

Productive color combinations (abdomen/thorax): Red/grey; olive/brown-olive; black/black; cream/tan; grey/grey.

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© 2002 Hans Weilenmann
Please don't copy/distribute the contents of this page without my explicit permission.