Top Secret Midge
Imitates: Emerging midge in the surface film
Quick Reference
- Best Sizes
- #20-26
- Best Season
- Year-round (especially winter)
- Best Conditions
- Tailwaters, winter midge hatches, flat slicks, selective trout
- Water Temp
- 38-52°F
- Recommended Tippet
- 6X-7X fluorocarbon
How to Rig It
Fish alone on a long leader or trail 6-12" behind a Griffith's Gnat or tiny dry indicator.
How to Present It
Dead-drift with zero drag. It must sit flush in the surface film where trout are sipping half-hatched midges.
Why It Works
Tiny midges hatch all year, especially in winter tailwaters, and trout often ignore adults to focus on the trapped emergers. The sparse black body, tiny wing tuft, and trailing shuck match that helpless stage perfectly.
History
The Top Secret Midge evolved from the same Western tailwater culture that gave us the RS2 and Mercury Midge — patterns built specifically for hyper-educated fish on rivers like the South Platte, Fryingpan, and Blue.
Pro Tip
If trout are sipping in slow winter water and your Griffith's Gnat gets looked at but not eaten, tie the Top Secret 8 inches behind it. Fish are often taking the emerger, not the cluster dry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Top Secret Midge?+
A tiny midge emerger designed to sit flush in the surface film with a sparse wing tuft and trailing shuck — ideal for selective trout during winter midge hatches.
What tippet should I use for a Top Secret Midge?+
6X or 7X fluorocarbon. The fly is tiny, the fish are selective, and slow winter water punishes heavy tippet.
Not sure if Top Secret Midge is right today?
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