The Phantom Midge (Glass Worms)
Ok, enough already. Nothing is more frustrating when fishing than finding out the fish are dining on glass worms and nothing else. Once, I tried over 4 dozen patterns of all types, sizes, and colours of different fly patterns, and couldn't even get a hit. I finally got one 2 pounder on a blood leech. So just to make sure, I opened the fish up and noticed the stomach was practically bursting with these glass worms. It had not one other insect in it's stomach. They say there is no pattern to match this, but I believe there must be something. Any suggestions????

Robert: I have never heard of one of these. Just what are they and what do they look like. How big are they.

Just had it happen to me last weekend at Big Bar. Every fish was plugged with glassworms. They are small chironomids that are totally clear except for a dark brown head (in this case). I managed to catch some fish on mayfly nymphs as these were hatching but the best success was just to give in and row around with a big flashy leech. Tried to imitate them but never had much success.

I have had decent success using a chironomid pattern that had a pearl flashabou body. It is about as close of an imitation as your going to get.

I was just wondering how the rises look when trout are feeding on these? A small lake I fished last week had the fish coming up about a 1/4 to half their body length and then just sinking straight back down. I couldn't see anything on or in the water.

Fishcarver, these glass worms can be difficult to see, especially in certain colours of water, but the fish rise to them similiar to the way they rise to other chronomids and it also depends on what stage their in(Same for other chronomids)

Mike, thanks for the idea, I'll try tying some different patterns with that stuff.

Just for those of you who don't know what glass worms are exactly. Some people swear they are a unique insect. Others, including myself, say they are from the chronomid family. I have read in published articles and other reading sources that they are indead a chronomid (Hence the name Phantom Midge)

For those who have not seen the glass worms...

They basically look exactly like the clear shucks (cases) of previously hatched chironomids, that you find on the surface of a lake after a chironomid hatch. Only they are not just empty shucks but in the pupa stage.

My fly shop has some small clear epoxy shimp. I think I'll give them a try. Thank guys.

Phantom midge or Chaoborus larva are in the same family as chironomids (Diptera), however they feed on other aquatic invertebrates. Since they generally inhabit deeper water, any time fish are rising in the middle of a lake over very deep water, there is a good chance that they are feeding on Chaoborus. Some success can be had by tying a fly with strips from a zip lock bag and a peacock herl head. Usually you are better off targeting fish in shallower water with flashy leech patterns.

Hi folks,
The glass midge or Phantom Midge you all refer to, is also present in the U.K. One pattern used over here is tied on a silver hook, with Nylon monofiament of an appropriate diameter for the body. the head as usual of peacock herl.

On another subject, after a 12,000 mile round trip I have acertained that "The Prof" alias John Kent is alive and well at Tunkwa Lake Resort and sends his regards to all his old Buddies.
He ties some pretty mean flies and kindly gave me some Chironomid and Leech samples and materials which I aim to try over here.
After all the information I had picked up on this board since Christmas I had expected to get amongst those B.C. Rainbows, sad to say I did not. I managed to take 3 decent fish at Tunkwa but they aint easy, despite constantly showing there presence. The various other places I tried including Kootenay, Lac Le Juane, and Nichola lakes yielded another dozen fish over a 3 week period. As some of you folks predicted, the Rivers Kettle, Simileken and Skagit were still too high for serious fly fishing.
Despite all this my wife and I had our best ever holiday, due in no small measure to your wonderful Canadian hospitality, If we were younger, we would be taking up permanent residence,
Regards,
Mike Neal

I have heard of these but have never actually come across them yet. Do you think clear V-Rib would work well for the body.

Possibly Greg, but you would see the hook through the V-rib. So materials that are close to clear glass color, but not see through are what is ideal. Maybe clear V-rib over flat silver tinsel would work good.

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