Fly Tying Inventory
Espresso Midge
Espresso Midge is a jigged midge pupa that Cheech of Fly Fish Food sums up as a zebra midge on a jig hook. A slotted bead on a jig hook carries most of its weight opposite the hook gap, so you can step up in bead size without crowding the gap. That makes it a useful heavier midge for Euro nymphing and other fishing. Black and claret are the most common colors, but any combination is open. The body is black thread with silver wire and opal tinsel under a UV coat. Tied here on a size 18 hook.
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Materials
Hanak H 480 BL Jig Hook, size 18
18
Hanak Round+ Slotted Tungsten Beads, silver, 2.0mm
Silver · 2.0mm
UTC Ultra Wire, silver, X-small
Silver · X-small
Loon UV Clear Fly Finish - Flow, for coating the body
Hends Spectra Dubbing, Black-Rainbow
Black-Rainbow
How to Tie the Espresso Midge
- 1
Step 1
Slide the silver slotted bead onto the jig hook and mount the hook in the vise.
- 2
Step 2
Start the black thread behind the bead and trim the tag.
- 3
Step 3
Tie in the silver wire on the shank with the long end trailing off the back of the hook.
- 4
Step 4
Tie in the opal Mirage Tinsel the same way, so both ribs trail off the back.
- 5
Step 5
Wrap the thread over the tie-in points to form a slim, smooth black body and leave the thread hanging behind the bead.
- 6
Step 6
Spiral the tinsel forward in open, even turns to the bead. Tie it off and trim the excess.
- 7
Step 7
Spiral the wire forward beside the tinsel to the bead. Tie it off and trim the excess.
- 8
Step 8
Coat the ribbed body with a thin layer of Loon UV Clear Fly Finish - Flow and cure it with a UV light.
- 9
Step 9
Dub a small pinch of Spectra Dubbing onto the thread.
- 10
Step 10
Wrap the dubbing directly behind the bead to form a small, sparkly thorax.
- 11
Step 11
Whip finish behind the bead and cut the thread.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=053pWttKmJ0
Credit: Cheech / Fly Fish Food