Vickie’s UV Midge Pupa

A productive and versatile pattern year-round

Trout landed with a White UV Midge Pupa

My UV Midge Pupa has exceeded my expectations and proven its value as a fish magnet. This exciting and versatile pattern imitates the pupa stage of aquatic insects, an important food source for trout.

UV reflective materials in the dubbing, abdomen, wing case, and tail enhance the visibility of this pattern. Its shiny abdomen mirrors the appearance of a midge pupa, a year-round food staple. Soft head hackle adds lifelike motion to this pattern as it is retrieved. The combination of these elements results in fly pattern which has proven its success throughout the year.

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I landed this large trout just before ice out dropping my UV Midge Pupa under an indicator using a floating line

Bass found my UV Midge Pupa irresistible when I fished it along shallow shoreline edges during the summer

How to Fish: Choose your line based upon the depth you want to target. When trout are hunting close to the surface or making surface rings, they are feeding on pupa or the adult stage of aquatic insects. The key is to maintain the fly close to the surface. In these situations, I recommend using a 7-foot intermediate sink tip line to maintain the fly in the top two feet. Incorporate slow 4- to 6-inch pulls with long, 5 second pauses. Be ready to set the hook as takes will be soft when trout take the fly during the pause.

When there are no visual signs of feeding trout, target depths of 3-4 feet and fish the UV Midge Pupa as an ascending pupa. I recommend an intermediate full sinking line. Allow the fly to sink for 10, 20 or 30 seconds before moving the fly. Incorporate long pauses between retrieves.