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How To Tie Shane Stalcup's Drowning Midge
Adult "Drowning" Midge
Recipe: Hook: Tiemco 2487 size Body: Goose biot Wing: Zing wing or medallion sheeting Thorax: Superfine dubbing Hackle: Partridge or any soft hackle
Step 1.
Start your thread and wrap to the bend. Now your ready to tie in the biot.
Step 2.
One thing to remember when doing this step is to make sure you tie it in the right way. There's really no right or wrong way, but if you want it to have the ribbed look there is only one way to get it to look this way. I never cut the boit off the stem. I pull it off so I'll have refrence when I go to tie it in. When you look at it after you've pulled it from the stem you will notice a little notch on the end. To create the smooth side you would have the notch facing to the left when tying it in at the tip. If you want the ribbed look then reverse the step (notch now facing to the right when tying it in at the tip).
Also tie in enough of the tip so it runs along the shank. Only tying it at the tip will result in the biot breaking off when you strat to wind it forward. Trust me on this.
Step 3.
Once you trim off the excess you will notice a tag end still showing. You will want to tie all that in and make a smooth thread base.
Step 4.
You kind of can see the diameter of the size you want the wing to be. I tie it in the center of the strip making about four wraps. I would say it needs to be an inch long so you have a little room for error when trimming the wings to shape.
Step 5.
When you tied in the wing make sure you adjust it to where you can see it a little at an angle. When you pull this one back it will go the other direction at angle creating the wing look. You only need to make a few wraps locking it in.
Step 6.
Dub a small amount of dubbing on the thread. You don't need a lot so make sure you pay attention to how much your applying. Antron dubbing goes along way. Don't apply much, if you need more you can always add more. Also leave enough room to tie in the partridge hackle. You will want the shank showing. It will rotate the feather better all the way around the shank .
Step 7.
This is where I cut the wing to shape. It's not hard, but it can be if you think about trying to make them perfect. What you will want to do first is make a straight cut. I make the cut a little past the bend of the hook. Now you'll make four more cuts and the wings should be done. Curved shank scissors will make the wings look rounder. Trim all four corners off and round them off.
They should look similar to these when finished.
I'm using partridge, but mallard or any soft hackle feather will work. This is another way you can tie a collar around with hackle.
Step 8.
Stroke all the feathers to the front (tips). Measure the tips laying back to the hook barb. Pinch the feathers along the hook shank with your left hand and make the first wrap with some tension. When you get to the other side re-pinch the feather this will push the feather over to the other side. Keep your thumb along (against) the hook shank and let go with your index finger and wrap a couple of times locking it in. The key to doing this step is the amount of thread tension you will use. It might take a few times to learn it. What your trying to accomplish is spinning the hackle like you would when tying in deer hair. Same concept, but a lot faster doing it this way with the same results. If you go look at the soft hackle you will see the standard way this step is completed. Trim the (stem) excess off and your ready to build a thread base.
Step 9.
Whip finish the fly and it's ready to fish.
Note: You can fish this like you would a nymph to get the best results.
