One of the most effective ways to fly fish a lake is with a strike indicator and suspending midge patterns. A midge is one of the only hatches that can occur 365 days a year because they can hatch and are active in colder water. Mayflies, Caddis and other bugs tend to hatch in the spring, summer and fall, when water temps are warmer. Since midges hatch year ’round, trout are always looking for them. This is also the reason that trout will often eat a midge when there are other bugs active in the water- they are a staple and always available. They make up a huge majority of a trouts diet.We fish midges in a variety of different colors-red, black, gray, tan, silver, olive and even purple. It is important to have a variety in your fly box and try using different color beads and wire- it matters! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone from using a gray fly with a red rib and a white bead to the same pattern with a black bead and the fish eat it when they refused the one with the white bead….and vice versa.

These days, I tie all of my weighted midges with tungsten beads. I find that when you add external split shot, sometimes the fish eat it and it causes a lot of missed strikes. I want my flies to sink quickly so tungsten is the way to go.

My go-to sizes are 14 to 18 tied on a Caddis pupa style hook.

A good group to follow is BC Fly Guys on Instagram. They have some great midge patterns that work really well in Arizona lakes.

So, if you want to catch more trout in the winter, try using midges in a variety of colors.

See you on the water!