Overview

Dylan Gonzales designed the 1 O'Clock Midge on New Mexico's San Juan River as an answer to the midday lull. Gonzales is an Umpqua signature tyer from the Southern Rockies, and this fly is a staple on Southwest tailwaters.

It imitates an adult midge with bright wings. Gonzales set out to tie a more realistic adult that would still catch fish in less than ideal conditions, and midges are the one food trout on tailwaters can count on every day of the year. When the morning bite slows and fish drift up in the water column to pick off midges, this is the fly to tie on.

How to Fish It

• Upper water column: fish it in the top two-thirds of the water column under a small indicator.
• Behind a dry: trail it 12 to 18 inches behind a small dry or midge cluster for fish feeding just below the surface.
• Light tippet: 6X or 7X fluorocarbon on clear tailwaters.
• Timing: late morning through early afternoon, when the midge activity peaks and the nymph bite slows.

Choosing Color and Size

Black is the most common adult midge color and the easiest to see against the light. Brown is a subtle alternative when fish ignore black.

Size 20 is a good starting point. Go to size 18 for larger midges or rougher water, and size 22 for small midges on flat, clear water.