Olive

Umpqua Fly Graveyard Midge Wood
SKU: NFD9825

Size: 18
Colours: Black and Olive

“I sprang out of bed at 2 a.m. one morning and tinkered with refining the idea until dawn. Thus the graveyard Midge was born.

The basis for all three patterns is derived from dozens of hours of netting and observing chironomids in a small lake in northwest Wyoming and stream netting across the Rocky Mountains.

The basic design uses the idea of over-exaggerating a single detail to act as a trigger for feeding trout.

The foam back and breathers on the Graveyard Midge act as that trigger, an idea inspired by the writings of the late Gary LaFontaine.

The use of open cell foam as the back and breathers on this pattern catches light, creating a halo effect making the fly more visible in the drift.

From the time I introduced this pattern it has been a top producer in tailwater and freestone rivers from the Guadalupe in central Texas, the South Platte in Colorado, the Bighorn in southeast Montana and beyond.

Fish it free floating in the current, as part of a deep nymphing rig or under an indicator wherever chironomids are present, anywhere and everywhere.”

– Signature Tyer John Wood

Umpqua Fly Jiggy Caddis Pupa Mercer
SKU: NFD9884

Size 14
Amber and Yellow

“Gary LaFontaine was a fly tying genius, and for me as an angler and creative fly designer, his Deep Sparkle Pupa was and is nothing short of magic. I was a young guide in the early 80’s when his Caddisflies book came out, constantly looking for an edge that would allow my clients to catch more and larger fish. Mayflies dominated the fly pattern scene at that time, with caddis being of only passing interest.

But with the introduction of Gary’s strange-looking Deep Sparkle Pupa, that all changed. This fly became my “confidence” pattern when fishing rivers throughout the West. Fast forward almost 40 years, add incredibly sharp Tiemco jig hooks, unbelievably heavy tungsten slotted beads, some added material motion, and you have a deep caddis pattern that I hope Gary would approve of.

I will always be grateful for his tying vision, and how it helped a kid imagine what it might be that fish were actually seeing underwater, and what it was that might better trigger them to take my flies.”

– Signature Tyer Mike Mercer