Palomino Midge

How it's tied

The Palomino Midge is tied on a short shank hook, often with a straight eye, and primarily involves two main materials: foam and hackle. The body is created using fine thread in colors that match local midge species, often black, brown, or cream.

A small piece of foam is then tied in near the bend of the hook to form the underbody, providing buoyancy and creating the segmented appearance of a midge pupa. A grizzly or light-colored hackle feather is wrapped around the foam body, further enhancing the fly's realism and floatability.

The wing is formed by a section of white or cream foam or poly yarn, tied in at the top of the body. This provides excellent visibility and gives the impression of the emerging wing buds of a midge pupa. The fly is finished with a neat thread head that secures all the materials in place.

What it mimics

The Palomino Midge is designed to mimic midge pupae during the emergence phase, a critical stage in their life cycle when they are highly attractive to feeding trout. The foam body and hackle create a convincing silhouette and natural buoyancy, while the visible wing offers an irresistible trigger to fish.

Where it's used

The Palomino Midge can be effectively used in various water types where midges form a significant part of the fish's diet. It is most effective during midge hatches but can also be used as a searching pattern when no specific hatch is evident.