Tied by Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions.
Winter may slow the hatches, but it doesn’t stop the trout—or the midges. When the weather gets cold in the Northeast (or just about anywhere), tiny patterns often rule the day. Enter the Parachute Midge, a small-but-effective dry fly that holds its own in tough winter conditions.
Tied by Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions, this size 24 parachute-style midge is designed to be visible to both fish and anglers. A simple switch from white thread to fluorescent orange in the final steps makes this microscopic fly stand out just enough on the surface—crucial when you're trying to track your drift in flat, cold water.
Despite its size, this pattern isn’t as difficult to tie as it looks. The post, thread body, and sparse hackle make it relatively straightforward, even at small sizes. It’s become one of Tim’s go-to winter dry flies for good reason.
Materials
- Hook: Standard dry-fly hook, Daiichi 1110, size 24.
- Thread: Bright orange Veevus, 16/0.
- Tails: Grizzly saddle hackle, midge.
- Post: White polypropylene floating yarn.
- Body: Black Super Fine dubbing.
- Hackle: Grizzly saddle hackle, slightly oversize.
