Midge or ‘buzzers’ can be one of the most important trout water insects, writes Craig, which makes the Red Buzzer a key pattern to have in your box. 

One of the insects most eaten by trout is the humble chironomid (midge). In many waters, midge underpin a trout’s diet throughout the leaner winter and early spring months. At Millbrook Lakes where I guide, midge patterns are some of our most-used flies during that period.

On the central Victorian lakes, this season has been a particularly strong one for midge, both at Millbrook and on many of the nearby public waters such as Newlyn, Hepburn and Wendouree. This midge fishing continues as I write. Midge are also seasonally very important in Tasmania, as well as on some waters in New South Wales.

Midge pupa patterns, commonly referred to as buzzers (in reference to the incessant buzz of adult swarms), come in many sizes and colours. The ones I use most often are red and olive in size 14.

Midge larvae (bloodworms) live in the mud and decaying weed or flooded grass in lakes, and also in the slower moving areas of rivers. Shallow, loamy bays are often the best places to look for fish feeding on the pupating buzzers. Fortunately, the lakes around Ballarat where I live have plenty of these environments.

Midge commence their lifecycle as an egg, then grow into a bloodworm, then transform into a pupa, ascending to the surface to emerge as an adult midge, which looks a bit like a non-biting mosquito.

I usually fish two buzzers, with the red one being closest to the bottom (point) and the olive one fished on the dropper approximately 60cm up.

I fish my buzzers a number of ways. The first method is to retrieve them very slowly using a figure-eight or similar retrieve. Another tactic is to suspend them under an indicator, often referred to as ‘fishing the bung’. This can be a very effective method, especially for less experienced anglers. I also use midge pupa patterns suspended under a dry fly, or as part of a team using a washing line technique.

When fishing with an indicator, aim to keep you flies close to the bottom, but move them higher if you see some fish feeding subsurface, which can indicate trout feeding on ascending pupa. I like to cast 45 degrees across the wind, allowing my flies to swing around with the breeze. Special attention should be given to line management though, ensuring you don’t get too big a belly in the line, causing you to lose contact with your flies. Extra action can be imparted to the flies by lifting the rod tip every so often, causing them to ascend.

Materials

Hook – Size 14 Ahrex curved nymph hook

Thread – Red 8/0

Bead – Small red glass

Rib – red Larva Lace or similar

Coating – Clear head cement

Tying method

1. Place the red bead on the hook.

2. Put down a red thread body all the way to just beyond the bend of the hook. Special attention should be given to creating a smooth body.

3. Next, tie in the red Larva Lace and rib back to behind the bead.

4. Then finish off behind the bead and whip finish.

5. Finally, coat the entire body with clear head cement. Wait until dry and then apply a second coat.

Note: I usually tie a dozen buzzers at a time, which allows for more efficiency given the drying process. Some tiers use epoxy, cured with a UV light. However, I still prefer head cement as I find it more robust.