Fly Tying Inventory
Muerto Midge
A chironomid emerger tied by Curtis Fry for lakes and reservoirs, where fish that look like they are rising are often taking bugs in or just under the film. It keeps the Magic Dub shuck of the Foamerger and adds white foam buds for the pronounced breathers on the naturals, built for larger bugs. Put a dab of floatant on the foam and let the rest of the body hang in the film. A bigger fly or some Loon Biostrike about 18 inches up works as an indicator. Fish also see it as a dry on the surface. Tied here on a size 16 hook.
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Materials
Hanak Hooks Model 530 Nymph hook (H 530 BL Pupa & Allround), size 16
16
Ice Dub, UV Shrimp Pink
UV Shrimp Pink
Rainy's Evazote Foam, white, 1/8 inch, for the breathers
White · 1/8 inch
How to Tie the Muerto Midge
- 1
Step 1
Mount the hook and start the black thread behind the eye. Wrap a thin base back toward the bend.
- 2
Step 2
Tie in the Mirage Tinsel at the back of the shank and bring the thread forward, leaving the front of the shank clear for the thorax.
- 3
Step 3
Wrap the tinsel forward in touching turns to form a pearly underbody. Tie it off at the thread and trim the excess.
- 4
Step 4
Lay a length of EZ Magic Dub on top of the shank so it runs back over the tinsel and past the bend. Bind it down at the front of the tinsel and trim the forward end. This strand is the shuck and leaves the tinsel showing below it.
- 5
Step 5
Pinch a small bunch of EP Trigger Point fibers and tie it in on top of the shank at the same spot, with a short end angled back over the Magic Dub for the wing and a long end reaching forward past the eye.
- 6
Step 6
Keep the long fibers out of the way, then dub a small amount of Ice Dub onto the thread and wrap a compact thorax over the tie-in point.
- 7
Step 7
Cut a narrow strip of white foam and bind it across the shank just ahead of the thorax, so one end stands out on each side of the fly.
- 8
Step 8
Whip finish behind the eye and cut the thread.
- 9
Step 9
Pull the long forward fibers together and trim them to a short stub ahead of the foam.
- 10
Step 10
Trim both ends of the foam down to short white buds.
The buds are the feature to keep visible, and they carry the floatant when you fish it.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCgOccxvO4Q
Credit: Curtis Fry / Fly Fish Food