Size 18 midge imitations, left to right, Copper Dun, Black Zebra and P&P.
Fishing in Branson is s most often associated with the world class bass fishing available in Table Rock Lake or Bull Shoals Lake, but Branson also offers another world class fishery, Lake Taneycomo, which in terms of the numbers of Rainbow and Brown Trout caught, make it one of the finest trout fishing experiences in the country. Within that fishery, one of the smallest foods that trout eat, the “Midge,” is real big in terms of providing fishing excitment. The rationale is simple, on Lake Taneycomo, the Midge is a primary trout food, is available in extremely large numbers, seemingly has “hatches” just about every day and a trout has to eat a lot of them for a “meal.”. Unfortunately it took me about 15 years of fishing and living on Lake Taneycomo before I realized the benefits an fun of fishing midge imitations.
When I first moved to Branson in 1986 and looked out the window of my Lake Taneycomo home, I noticed ripples on the surface seemingly coming from trout eating something. As a matter of fact, I noticed a lot of it all up and down the portion of upper Lake Taneycomo that I fished quite often. On a trip to Bass Pro Shops, not too long after, I had a chance to talk with Dave Whitlock about what I was seeing and asked him what he thought the trout were eating. Without hesitation, he reached behind him, brought out a copy of his “Guide to Aquatic Trout Foods” and turned to the section describing a member of the insect order “Diptera” and the family “Chironomidae” or as they are commonly known to fly fishermen, “the Midge.”
Although I bought the book and read up on them, their small size, 16 and up hooks; what I believed was a required delicate presentation and the fact that I was fishing successfully, and still do on occasion, with 100th ounce jigs kind of scared me off. It was over 15 years until, based on some advice and help from Stan and Carolyn Parker of River Run Outfitters, that I finally started using Midges. It was tentatively at first, but then I realized what a great lure they were. They became my lure of choice and they added a whole new dimension to my trout fishing.
As is the case with other members of its Order the adult Midge has one pair of wings. In its adult stage some confuse it with a small mosquito, but unlike a mosquito Midges do not bite, buzz, or as far as I know transmit the same diseases that mosquitoes do. What they do however, is provide fishermen on Lake Taneycomo an excellent opportunity to hook up with a Rainbow or Brown Trout.
When it comes to Midges, I use the word “emerge” rather than “hatch” because of the four major stages of a midge’s life cycle, egg, larvae, pupae, and adult, it is as the midge emerges from its pupae stage and is transitioning into the adult stage that the fisherman has the best opportunity to use midge imitations to catch trout on Lake Taneycomo. As the midge emerges and transitions, it gradually rises through the water column, from the bottom to the surface, where it completes its transition into adult, flies, off, swarms, mates, lays eggs, and the cycle starts all over again. While the midge gradually travels up the water column it is at its largest subsurface size, presents the best target to trout, and, in my opinion is easiest for both trout and fishermen to catch.
One can drive themselves crazy worrying about matching sizes and patterns but, from a day to day perspective and having caught literally thousands of trout on Midges over the last 13 years, I would suggest that size 16 to 18 midges including the Black Zebra, Primrose & Pearl, commonly called the P&P, and the Copper Dun Midge would be an excellent place to start. If they are running water I would use the size 16 as a dropper, off of a size 12 or 14 of one of the above or a “Big Ruby.”
The vast majority of my fishing on Lake Taneycomo is done under an indicator. I have standardized on the Float Master Float System because of their ease in adjusting depth, they do not kink my leader, and don’t come off the leader and float down the stream. Although they come in a variety of sizes, I most often use the 3/8 inch for single midges and calm water and the half inch for drop rigs and rougher water where visibility could be a problem. I have the best results using the smallest indicator possible for conditions.
The “emerging” midge does not rise straight up to the surface, it gradually rises vertically to the surface as currents, winds, etc. are simultaneously moving it horizontally. I try to keep the drag to a minimum so the horizontal movement is as natural as possible. Although trout will hit the midge anywhere in the water column as it transitions, my theory is that they are more likely to come up for it than go down for it. Obviously, those who feel different will fish deeper. I use 6x Orvis Mirage or 6x or 5.5x Trout Hunter Fluorocarbon Tippet set at between one foot and six feet depending on the water depth.
With the small hook size expect to pick and roll and miss a lot. In my experience for every hook up I get there is, on average, a miss, pick and roll, or a break off but that’s fishing. I love to throw the Midge into water that is being rippled by the wind or through which a boat has just passed.
If you remember nothing else from this article please remember that if you not fishing Midges as part of your fly fishing or fishing repertoire on Lake Taneycomo not only are you ignoring one of the primary food sources for trout but you are missing out on a lot of fun. Two excellent sources of getting additional information on fishing midges for trout in Branson on Lake Taneycomo would be River Run Outfitters and Lilley’s Landing Resort who are also contributors to the weekly Branson.Com Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo Fishing Report.
