Poison Tung Midge

The Poison Tung Midge, created by Charlie Craven, was conceived during a winter experiment with unconventional fly colors, specifically blue. Inspired by studies on the visual appeal of blue to trout, Craven designed this midge to stand out in deep, clear waters where light refraction accentuates the subtle blue ribbing. Its gray Ice Dub head mimics the natural translucence of an emerging midge, while the blue rib adds a unique trigger that trout rarely ignore. This pattern has proven exceptionally effective on technical tailwaters like the South Platte, North Platte at Gray Reef, the Blue River, the Frying Pan, and the Colorado, where showing pressured fish something different often yields remarkable results.

Drift and Lift: Allow the fly to dead drift near the bottom, then lift the rod tip slightly at the end of the drift to mimic an emerging pupa rising to the surface. This often triggers strikes.