I absolutely love this pattern and it is one that normally gets tied on the leader first when using a two or three fly searching rig.
The Electric Midge holds a few attributes that contribute to an outstanding midge pattern. Besides a slender body and sementation it's translucency is second to none.
A whole host of color schemes can be achieved with different colored micro tubing and wire. I keep this simple, but tie a few and find out what works best for you waters! And don't worry about too much flash. The micro tubing does a decent job of muting the brightness.
Materials
Hook: TMC 200 or Daiichi 1270, Sizes 18-22. (TMC 200 size 20 pictured.)
Thread: 14/0 Veevus, red
Body/Rib: Hend's 0.09 gold extra fine wire is inserted into blood red micro tubing.
Head: Thread built to a small taper and UV resin is applied to the threads wraps.
Tying instructions
1. Prepare body and ribbing by cutting approximately 4-inches of micro tubing and wire. Apply a little saliva, water or baby oil to the wire. Hold the wire and tubing verically and slowly work the wire down through the tubing. (Keeping the tubing and wire vertical is the fastest/easiest way I found to complete this step). Prepare a few tube/wire combinations if you intend to tie more than few flies.
2. Pinch barb of the hook with the jaws of the vise. Secure hook.
3. Start securing wraps almost directly behind the eye. Leave a small space for the whip finish.
4. With the tubing and ribbing flush at the end secure combination on the far side of the shank. Make smooth, flat and touching wraps rearward to a postion just rear of the barb as pictured. A smooth and flat layer of thread will determine how well your body/ribbing looks!
5. This step can be a little tricky... Stretch tubing, but not too tight, as breaking the wire is a possibility. Wind combination forward with touching wraps to a position of 2 to 2 1/2 eye lengths behind the eye (as pictured). Secure combination on the nearside of the hook shank by making two securing wraps and then bending the combination parallel to the shank. Take a few more securing wraps forward towards the eye. Stretch tubing and then wiggle the combination. The wire will break at this point and you can now cut away the remaining tubing.
6. Build a small tapered head, whip finish and apply a coat or two of UV resign.
Tied a few of them up tonight. Tried to thread the wire without lube. Started out easily enough but 20 minutes later it wasn't done tried olive oil which worked but found spit worked even better. Experimented with other colors and black and silver wire looked down right evil. Love the pattern. You never fail to make me stretch my ability and improve my techniques. John Wilson
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