FLY FISHING WITH CHIRONOMIDS PART 1 WITH PHIL ROWLEY

KEY TAKEAWAYS: FLY FISHING WITH CHIRONOMIDS

 

Midge/Chironomids are everywhere within most fisheries.They make up a huge portion of the biomass.Always look for active fish near the surface because active fish are very often feeding fish.Spend around 15-30 minutes in one place before moving.When fish feed on chironomids, they often congregate.Phil believes that the response to chironomids is Pavlovian, meaning that the fish will take midge/chironomid imitations even when the naturals are not present.

CHIRONOMID LIFE CYCLE: LARVA

Chironomids have a complete metamorphosis: larva, pupa, and adult.The larva is often called the bloodworm because many retain hemoglobin which turns them red.The larva can be 100 to 200 feet down and in oxygen-depleted areas where detritus is present.Many larvae are free-living, but many also construct tubes along the mud-water interface along the bottom.You find the larvae in muddy bottoms as well as over weedbeds.To begin with, start near the bottom when imitating the larval stage or concentrate near the weedbeds that they may be using.Think about currents and wind and how they may be pushing dislodged larva toward the surface.Time of season and day are important for the larval form: low-light periods, early in the season, early in the morning, summer when fish have moved into deeper water, and late fall when other food sources are less available.

CHIRONOMID LIFE CYCLE: PUPA

The pupa is exposed during its entire stage, so it becomes particularly important for trout and other fish.Apolysis is the separation of the shuck, which traps gas between the shuck and adult inside causing the pupa to be very shiny.Pupa often stage for days, suspending just above the bottom in dense clouds. As the pupa elevate toward the surface trout will follow them through the different levels of the water column.

CHIRONOMID LIFE CYCLE: ADULT

Mornings and evenings are normally the best times to experiment with adult patterns.

TARGETING SPECIFIC WATER LEVELS

 

Identify major areas that are likely habitat.Identify areas that are active with chironomids through signs. This is “the Field of Dreams” idea; if the conditions are right, the fish will eventually be there.Moving fishOther anglers having successPupal shucksAdults flying aroundBegin to experiment with various depths through different presentations.Indicators have two advantages: depth control and variable speeds on retrieve.

FLY SELECTION

 

Flies should be at least a little different from the naturals to attract attention to your patterns.Small differences can make a huge difference in success.Size, color, aggressiveness of retrieve all work together.The longer adult chironomids are alive, often the darker they will become.Throughout the hatch, there is a gradual down-sizing, so if you see #12 adults, the pupae may be #10, etc.Often larger flies may help you to stand out in the hoard of midge in the water.Start from dark to light (black to chrome).Black with a red rib works everywhere.

SOME TOP FLY PATTERNS

 

Patterns featuring white beads, such as Chan’s Chironomid Pupa, are great for turbid and slightly stained water, but fish will often shy away from the stark white beadhead patterns in really clear water.Phil’s Black Sally is great for clearer water situations when patterns featuring white beads seem too overt.Chromies in lots of different variations can be very effective.The collaborator is a good all-round pattern.Attractors like Chan’s Beadhead Chironomid Bomber can the ticket at times.

PRESENTATION

 

Depth and retrieve are the most important steps to get right (it always trumps pattern).Use double fly rigs when possible.Speed of retrieve can vary from dead-drift to rise and fall of the chironomid pattern when using indicator rigs.With light winds, cast against the wind and let it drift your chironomids back toward you, almost as if you were in a river.Attention to detail is critical, particularly when it comes to depth and speed.

RIGGING

 

Lines

Lines for close in and short casts of awkward indicator rigsRio’s Extreme IndicatorRio’s Trout/Salmon

Leaders and Rigging

Rio Indicator leaderBarrel Swivel #12, #14, #162 feet from swivel to point flyIf necessary, add fluorocarbon tippet from the 10 foot leader to the swivel to extend the depth.Another option is to add a full level leader (10 to 13 feet of level 1x to 3x) to the swivel.

Double Rigs

Sliding dropperYou can do a similar setup with a bloodknot or a triple surgeons knot.He prefers the sliding dropper to flies that are dropper style, i.e., tied from the point fly.