Ted Welling's Zebra Midge is the go-to tailwater midge larva pattern. Two materials — thread and wire — tied on a beaded hook. Deceptively simple and devastatingly effective.
1. Bead — Thread a silver tungsten bead onto the hook and push it to the eye.
2. Thread base — Attach black thread just behind the bead and wrap a smooth, even base all the way to the bend.
3. Rib — Tie in fine silver wire at the bend.
4. Body — Wind black thread forward in tight, touching turns from the bend to just behind the bead, building a smooth tapered body. No dubbing — the thread IS the body.
5. Rib — Counter-wind the silver wire forward over the thread body in evenly spaced turns to create the zebra stripe effect. Tie off just behind the bead and trim.
6. Finish — Build a tiny collar just behind the bead. Whip finish and apply head cement.
hook
bead
thread
rib
Chironomidae spp.
