If there is one insect that consistently separates anglers who catch fish from anglers who hope to catch fish, it’s the Midge. Midges are not flashy. They don’t arrive in dramatic clouds, they don’t bring reckless surface takes, and they rarely announce themselves. Yet on many rivers, especially tail waters, spring creeks, and winter fisheries, midges are the most important food source trout see all year.

I was fishing the upper stretch of the Colorado river near Kremmling Colorado in early June hoping to get into one of the most iconic hatches there is – The Salmonfly hatch. There were reports that a few of them…

Learn when to use attractor flies vs. match-the-hatch patterns for trout fishing. Expert tips on reading water, choosing flies, and adapting to conditions for more hookups.

When you think about what makes a river “fishy,” your first thought is probably bug life—mayflies, caddis, midges, and the seasonal hatches we all love to chase. But not all rivers are built the same. Some are insect-driven systems, where trout survive almost entirely on nymphs and emergers. Others offer an extra “power meal” in the form of sculpins and other small baitfish, giving trout more calories per bite—and often more size.

While brushing my teeth on the night of January 2, 2022 something really uncomfortable occurred. My hands started shaking, the muscles in my legs were contracting and I couldn’t seem to control it. The only thing I could think to do was to try laying down. From bed I tried to manage my body but my mind started racing and my breathing was abnormal. It started to become a full body experience.