
Rojo Midge
Imitates: Adult midge / blood midge pupa
Quick Reference
- Best Sizes
- #18-20
- Best Season
- Winter through spring
- Best Conditions
- Tailwaters, spring creeks, slow clear runs
- Water Temp
- 35-55°F
- Recommended Tippet
- 6X fluorocarbon
How to Rig It
Point fly with a Zebra Midge dropper, or trailed off a small nymph.
How to Present It
Dead-drift through soft inside seams and tailouts where midges stack up.
Why It Works
The red body imitates the hemoglobin-rich blood midge, while white antron breathers at the head suggest the emerging adult breaking through the surface film.
History
Designed by Pat Dorsey for Colorado tailwaters like the Dream Stream and Cheesman Canyon, the Rojo has become a national winter midge pattern.
Pro Tip
Strip-set on takes — most refusals on tiny midges happen because the angler trout-sets too hard and pulls the fly out of the soft seam.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'Rojo' mean?+
Rojo is Spanish for red, named for the bright red wire body that imitates the blood midge.
Not sure if Rojo Midge is right today?
Get a fly recommendation based on live water temp, flow, sky, and time of day for any river in the US.
Open Fly Advisor