Sprout Midge Emerger

Tied by J. Stockard Pro Tyer Paul Shurtleff
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Designed and tied by J. Stockard Pro Paul Shurtleff, the Sprout Midge Emerger is a smartly engineered fly that imitates one of the most prolific—and overlooked—stages in the midge life cycle. Built to resemble a midge in the pupal-to-adult transition, this pattern rides low in the water film with just enough floatation and flash to remain visible and lifelike, even in slow drifts or cold water conditions.

Midges, or dipterans, are found in virtually every freshwater system around the world. Depending on the region and water type, they’re also known as gnats, chironomids, buzzers, and countless other local nicknames. Though tiny, they hatch in staggering numbers and often account for more than half of a trout’s diet, especially on tailwaters and in the colder months.

This particular version of the Midge Emerger is Paul’s personal twist on a classic idea—what he calls a “variant of a variant.” He’s fished it to great effect on Utah’s famed tailwaters, and with good reason. The pattern uses a peacock quill abdomen touched with UV resin and flashabou for subtle shimmer. This mimics the slick, gas-filled casing of a midge about to emerge. A thorax of peacock herl is palmered with dry fly hackle to suggest struggling legs and trapped motion. The fly is finished with a small foam post, which not only keeps it upright and afloat but gives the angler an easy visual cue in low light or tight conditions.

Fished correctly, this pattern presents with the abdomen piercing the surface film and the thorax and head riding above it, exactly like a real midge in its emergence stage. It’s a highly effective fly when trout are sipping midges just below the surface and ignoring fully hatched adults.

Fish this fly with a dead drift, letting it ride just under the surface. Ideal for winter and early spring midge hatches, especially on tailwaters and slower-moving pools. Pair with 6x or 7x tippet for a delicate presentation. The foam post makes it highly visible even at size 20 and smaller.