Chironimid question...just curious.

[navigator37 0]

Just wondering how many of you find gills on a midge pattern necessary?

Many pupae patterns have white gill material tied on.

Even exagerated gills of some length like this pic.

 

Do you find that gills on a pattern get you more strikes?

[Old Hat 0]

Each is going to have there own opinion. Mine is yes.

[Wellman 0]

I always put gills on my chirinomids. I do find it makes a difference.

 

Donc c'est une oui pour moi.

[riffleriversteelheadslayer 0]

I go both ways on the gills sometimes it makes a difference sometimes it don't but most of the time I put gills on them

[flytyinfreak 0]

I was told to get rid of em but What the heck, I like em and they catch fish!

[Fred H. 0]

I put them on the ones I tie. Did you ever look at a spent midge pupa casing ?. It looks just like a live or full one without the gills. Do you see alot of fish taking the empty casing off the surface ?

 

Some days the fish are bitting with reckless abandon , and every fisherman on the water is an expert . Some days the fish don't seem to want to feed and scutinize our every offering. I never know what kind of day I will find when I reach the water so I always tie as if my fly will be well examined by the fish .

Fred

[Jaydub 0]

The real pupae have gills and they are easy to add so I add them. Larvae don't have them.

[buggybob 0]

Haven't used gills on my chironomids for over 20 years. Fishing next to anglers that had gills on theirs, I was able to catch as many or more as they did.

 

Bottom line, if you like them and you feel more confident with gills on go for it.

[Firetiger 0]

I like breathers of Tiemco ADW, as they are buoyant and help to ensure the buzzer imitation sinks heads up, butt down - which I consider much better than a fly sinking sideways.

 

I had the opportunity to watch a chiro hatch from beneath while scuba diving, it was a real eye opener. I really recommend it, however if you do not have the equipment and training necessary have a look at a shot from the Bugs of the Underworld

; it is the second best alternative.

 

From what I saw both in life and DVD the breathers are a prominent feature of the buzzer pupa, always pointing upwards.

 

The only case when I omit the breathers is when tying orange buzzer cheeks - including both would make the fly head too big and unwieldly.

 

Cheers!

 

J.