All the best flies are almost always simple affairs, the knotted Midge being no exception. All you need is some thread and a couple of hackles. One to carry with you no matter where you are fishing, still or running water.

This style of fly is called a “fore and aft,” a simple but accurate description. You can tie it in sizes ranging from 16 down to 30. I have demonstrated the classic black here, but you can tie it in a range of colours to suit.

All instructions assume right-handed tyers.

HOOK – Kamasan B410 #20
THREAD – Black Gudebrod 10/0
HACKLES – Black Cock

	STEP 1 Attach the thread and wrap to the bend.
	STEP 2 Tie in the first hackle as shown.
	STEP 3 Wrap the hackle as shown and tie off.
	STEP 4 Trim the waste hackle and continue wrapping the thread to the shoulder.
	STEP 5 Tie in the head hackle.
	STEP 6 Wrap the hackle and tie off.
	STEP 7 Trim the wasted hackle, form a neat head and whipfinish.
	The completed fly varnished and ready for fishing.
	If you’re feeling a little more adventurous and have hackles small enough you can tie this one as small as you like. This one is on a Tiemco 100 #28.

Dennis Shaw was born into a fanatical fishing family at Dalbeattie in Southwest Scotland. He graduated from the local "Barr Burn", with the proverbial cane, wool and bent pin for eels, to fishing the local rivers and lochs. Now married with a son and daughter and fishing the chalkstreams of Southern England, Dennis is always yearning for "home". He has been tying flies for over 35 years yet still learns something new every day.