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Home->Articles->Phils Articles->Archives->Hitchhikers Guide to Chironomids Part 1   
Phils Articles
Hitchhikers Guide to Chironomids Part 1

 

Trout of all sizes love chironomids.
The wind was up and the weather was still in the final convulsions of a low-pressure system.  Understandably, fishing was slow.  Moving from the protected shallows into deeper water the subtle swirl of a feeding fish caught my attention.  Looking closer I began to notice other trout moving at the surface.  The wind moving across the surface created wind lanes, foam lines and slicks known as Langmuir Spirals.  Trout were moving upstream in these slicks and picking off the large Chironomid pupa that were now completing the final stages of their ascent in ever increasing numbers.  It was time to drop anchors and feed some fish.

 

I was now in 15 feet of water, I checked my leader and added a new section of tippet increasing its overall length to about 19 feet.  Stripping out enough fly line for a long wind assisted toss I punched a quartering cast out into the small swells sat down and patiently waited for the size 10 Christmas Tree pupa pattern to sink.   In 15 feet of water it would take 3 full minutes for the fly to cascade into the depths.  As time passed an increasing number of obese adult chironomids swept by, abdomens hanging down in a vain attempt to maintain an element of grace and style amidst the frequent gusts of wind.  During the swing of my third cast the fly line darted through my fingers under the pressure of a confidant grab, so much for the so-called subtle “chironomid” take.  Within seconds I was into my backing and at the mercy of a 4-pound fish cart wheeling amongst the chop, not the least impressed with this whole chironomid thing.

 


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