Charlie's Fly Box

ONE

Jujubee Midge

M

any years ago, I was feverishly tying up a last-minute batch of barracuda flies for an upcoming trip to Belize. It was late at night and my desk was piled high with all sorts of crazy materials. Flash, Super Hair, stick-on eyes, and epoxy all cluttered my work space. I had tied a long hank of chartreuse Super Hair to the bend of a 3/0 saltwater iron to create the elongated body of a needlefish in hopes of luring some poor, overly aggressive barracuda into making a mistake.

To this day I clearly remember quickly wrapping the threaded bobbin forward over the hook shank when a single strand of that Super Hair tail caught up in the thread and got twisted up the shank along with it.

What was at first an annoyance with my sloppy technique quickly became something to give me pause. As I looked at the wound Super Hair, an idea popped into my head that changed both the rest of my evening and, in many ways, my life. I had accidently stumbled upon using an old material in a new way. Though Super Hair

Super Hair provides a beautifully segmented abdomen in a plethora of color combinations for the Jujubee Midge.

1

2 ■ CHARLIE’S FLY BOX 2 ■ CHARLIE’S FLY BOX

Super Hair has become one of my favorite materials. It is tough, cheap, and commonly available in a variety of colors.

Super Hair has become one of my favorite materials. It is tough, cheap, and commonly available in a variety of colors.

has been a staple in saltwater and baitfish patterns for finished this simple larva pattern off with a black th has been a staple in saltwater and baitfish patterns for finished this simple larva pattern off with a black thread years, it occurred to me that I could wrap it around the head and thought that I just might be on to someth years, it occurred to me that I could wrap it around the head and thought that I just might be on to something. hook to create a near perfect midge body. I swept all the Over the course of the next few weeks I conti hook to create a near perfect midge body. I swept all the Over the course of the next few weeks I continued saltwater materials to the side of my desk with my arm, to play with the Super Hair. Finally, at some poi saltwater materials to the side of my desk with my arm, to play with the Super Hair. Finally, at some point, I dug into my hook drawer for some curved scud hooks, decided to add another color for a contrasting rib. U dug into my hook drawer for some curved scud hooks, decided to add another color for a contrasting rib. Using and ventured forth with this new idea perched on my one strand in each color made for a fly that was a and ventured forth with this new idea perched on my one strand in each color made for a fly that was a little fingertips. too busy for me, and I finally smartened up and fingertips. too busy for me, and I finally smartened up and used At first, I simply tied in a single strand of Super Hair two strands of the primary color along with one st At first, I simply tied in a single strand of Super Hair two strands of the primary color along with one strand to the shank behind the eye, wrapped over it to the of a contrasting rib color. By mixing and matching to the shank behind the eye, wrapped over it to the of a contrasting rib color. By mixing and matching the bend, and proceeded to wrap the Super Hair in abutting colors, I found I could create bodies that mimicked bend, and proceeded to wrap the Super Hair in abutting colors, I found I could create bodies that mimicked the turns forward to the hook eye. I quickly discovered that natural’s ribbing and segmentation. Using more su turns forward to the hook eye. I quickly discovered that natural’s ribbing and segmentation. Using more subtle using a dark thread killed the translucent properties of colors together, like brown and olive, created a m using a dark thread killed the translucent properties of colors together, like brown and olive, created a muted the Super Hair. I switched to the smallest white thread I “camo” type body, while the contrasting colors the Super Hair. I switched to the smallest white thread I “camo” type body, while the contrasting colors like could find (the now-no-longer-available 40-denier chartreuse and black made for much more promi could find (the now-no-longer-available 40-denier chartreuse and black made for much more prominent Gudebrod 10/0) and found that the Super Hair wrapped segmentation.

Gudebrod 10/0) and found that the Super Hair wrapped segmentation. over a white thread base made a beautifully segmented Moving on to the wing case and wing buds wh over a white thread base made a beautifully segmented Moving on to the wing case and wing buds where I body with translucence unlike anything else I had seen. I originally used Antron, I later used a then-new mat body with translucence unlike anything else I had seen. I originally used Antron, I later used a then-new material

JUJUBEE MIDGE ■

from Umpqua Feather Merchants called Fluoro Fibre.

Fluoro Fibre is essentially organza in its raw form.

Rather than being woven into a sheet like organza, Fluoro Fibre comes in a hank and is much easier to use. The fiber-optic and light-gathering nature of the Fluoro Fibre made it a perfect choice for the Jujubee’s wing case. The parts were all laid out and the construction was simple from there.

At the time the Jujubee was being put together, I was guiding on the South Platte River for my daily bread. I stashed my secret pattern in my box and had clients unknowingly field-test the pattern for me on the notoriously tough Cheesman Canyon trout. The fish loved it and I attribute their zeal for the pattern to its prominent segmentation and slightly shiny wing case. It ain’t easy keeping a good thing secret and eventually, my little “SuperMidge” (this is what I called the fly at that time, for lack of a better name) crept out to the other guides.

Luckily, the lack of detailed tying tricks that I have now described here kept the others from tying it for their own boxes. I had my little secret pattern all to myself and my friends for the most part for several years.

It was when Van Rollo convinced me to submit my Charlie Boy Hopper and a few other patterns to Umpqua Feather Merchants that my little midge really got moving. I had tied up a couple dozen sample patterns for the boys at Umpqua to peruse and had lined them up neatly in a large foam fly box for their inspection.

There was some space left on one side of the foam box and I felt like I needed to fill it all up, so I went into my midge box and pulled out a few of my secret weapons and stuck them in with the rest. I really thought this pattern was too simple to sell very well, and I included it in the submissions more to fill out the box than from any notion that it would be picked up.

Turns out I was wrong again. Umpqua’s “Fly Czar,” Bruce Olson, loved the fly and insisted that it, along with my Charlie Boy Hopper, become part of the Umpqua catalog. The only catch was the name of the fly had to be changed to something less generic. “SuperMidge” just wasn’t unique enough, and Bruce asked that I try to come up with something better. I figured that if I were ever to have something this cool happen to me, I ought to share it with those I love and so I named the fly the Jujubee Midge in honor of my daughter Julie. We have called her “Jujubee” since she was born and the name was kind of catchy . . . so the fly became known as the Jujubee Midge. As it turns out, mistakenly wrapping a few strands

3

Fluoro Fibre has shine without flash and picks up light well, making it perfect for wings, tails, wing cases, and wing buds. It is available in a host of useful colors.

of Super Hair around the hook may have been the best idea I have ever had.

TYING TIPS I have had perhaps a hundred different tiers come to me over the years with the same question and problem: “How do you keep all three strands of Super Hair even and together as you wrap them up the hook shank?” If you tie in the three strands of Super Hair to the bend and then try to wrap the three strands together at a right angle to the hook shank, the fibers will separate as you approach the apex of the hook bend. The solution is not terribly intuitive, but it is simple. The Super Hair strands must be wrapped at a right angle to the tabletop or floor, regardless of the hook’s orientation. The first turn, placed at a right angle to the floor, leaves a tiny gap at the hook bend but also allows the fibers to lie neatly next to each other as you wrap them forward up the hook shank. I elaborate on this technique in the tying steps.

Tying the wing case and wing buds with too much Fluoro Fibre results in a fly with too much bulk and an overbearing amount of shine. I typically use twelve strands of Fluoro Fibre for the wing cases on a #18 Juju,

4 ■ CHARLIE’S FLY 4 ■BOX CHARLIE’S FLY BOX

drop down to ten fibers for a #20, use eight fibersand use color combinations has proven to be a tremendous drop down to tenand fibers for a #20, eight fibers color combinations has proven toasset be a tremendo for the #22s. I encourage you toI actually count a tocount me over for the #22s. encourage youout to actually outthe a years.to me over the years. dozen strands of Fluoro forofatFluoro least the firstfor fewat least theI first mostfew commonly fish the Jujubee on afish 9-foot leader on a 9-foo dozenFibre strands Fibre I most commonly the Jujubee batches of flies. Twelve fibers isn’t Twelve a wholefibers lot, and withlot, a 5X multiple rig,inoften behindfly rig, often batches of flies. isn’tita whole andorit6X tippet withina a5X or 6X fly tippet a multiple appears to me that appears most tiers seem to mistake 40 to 50 a heavier fly like a Poison Tung.

The heavy front fly keepsheavy front fl to me that most tiers seem to mistake 40 to 50 a heavier fly like a Poison Tung.The fibers for a dozen. fibers for a dozen. the Juju down but allows to findbut its allows place init the cur-its place in t the Jujuit down to find Using the 2X short shanked Tiemco 2488 hook rents and react as the naturals would.

I usually attach a I usually a Using the 2X short-shanked Tiemco 2488 hook rents and react as the naturals would.

1 1 times theabout water1 depth makes the nominalmakes length the #22length plentyofsmall foam indicator about 1 ⁄2indicator ⁄2 times the wate theofnominal the #22 small plenty small small foam above the first fly.

I generally try to get away with just enough for my waters, but for those of you that enjoy above the first fly. I generally try tothe get away with enough my waters, but for those of you that enjoy as a weight, as I have a true believer in a true bel fishing with flecks of dust,with I suggest Unique Hair usingheavier heavier fly asbecome a weight, as I have become fishing flecksusing of dust, I suggest UniqueflyHair the stealthier approach of using a weighted fly rather than for the smallest of the fly bodies.

Unique Hair and Super the stealthier approach of using a weighted fly rath for the smallest of the fly bodies. Unique Hair and Super splitare shot to get thesplit fly down, resort usingbut split Hair both come from Best Waycome Products exactly shot tobut getI the fly to down, I resort to usi Hair both from and Bestare Way Products and exactly shot and lead putty to seal the deal if need be. the same, except that the Unique Hair fibers are even shot and lead putty to seal the deal if need be. the same, except that the Unique Hair fibers are even I fishis the deepinpools during thinner than the Super Hairthan fibers.

Hairfibers. is tooUnique Hair fish the and Jujubee tailouts and deep pools thinner the Unique Super Hair tooJujubee inI tailouts colder fish months, tend to as congregate in these fine for the average of #16-size 22 but works colder the fish tend to congregate i finesizeforrange the average range of #16-22 but months, works as the areas.

As the temperatures rise intemperatures the spring, the beautifully for the smaller #24-for 30 the versions popular onversions a As the water rise in the spr beautifully smaller #24-30 popular on awater areas. move up Iinto the of pools, certain tailwaters. On thesetailwaters. smallest ofOn thethese smallsmallest Jujus, Iof thefish fishriffles moveand up the intoheads the riffles and and the heads of po certain small Jujus, I’ll target them there as well. cut the wing case fibers down to about six to keep the I’ll target them there as well. cut the wing case fibers down to about six to keep the My typical approach with scanning the area fly properly sparse. fly properly sparse.

Mybegins typical approach begins with scanning t for signs of visibly feeding fish.

Depending on the water While my very first Jujubees were tied on the for signs of visibly feeding fish. Depending on th While my very first Jujubees were tied on the may be looking an entire fish, the of a fish, the fl Tiemco 2487 scud Tiemco and light2487 midge hook, latermidge made hook,depth, depth,for I may be looking forflash an entire scud and Ilight I laterI made fish turning to feed, or even just the white inside of a white ins the permanent change to the Tiemco 2488.

The 2488 fish turning to feed, or even just the the permanent change to the Tiemco 2488. The 2488 trout’s mouth. not uncommon the uncommon winter and in the win has a ring eye that just thisjust pattern betmouth. It isin not has seems a ring to eyefitthat seemsa bit to fit this pattern a bit bet- It istrout’s early spring to find several fish together in a ter and to be honest,ter other than my own taste in the look early spring to find severalgood fish seam, together in a goo and to be honest, other than my own taste in the look off emerging pupae. always trypupae. to sight fish try to sig of the fly, there is ofreally no there reasonisthat either hook thatpicking picking offI emerging I -always the fly, really no reason either hook rather than blind cast, because to me there is just about wouldn’t work well.wouldn’t I do try work to avoid using rather than blind-cast, because to me there is jus well.

I dothe tryTiemco to avoid using the Tiemco nothing as my boring asnothing watching an indicator drift through 2488H, as its heavier wire makes the fly wire too fat for my as boring as watching an indicator drift t 2488H, as its heavier makes the fly too fat for I’m not slow sayingwater.

I won’t and I’m not sayeye. I have had requests to tiehad Jujusrequests on these heavier I’mdo notit,saying I won’t do it, and I’m n eye. I have to tie Jujus on slow thesewater. heavier ing Itailwaters haven’t done it,ing butI haven’t given a done choiceit,and prospect hooks for folks whohooks fish some of the western tailwaters but the given a choice and the p for folks who fish some of the western of while even one visible, of feeding fish, visible, I will take the one known for larger than average while-sized it canfish, and even one feeding fish,II can will take the on known for-sized largerfish, thanand average it can see over the ones I can’t any day.

That’s just me. be done, I think thebeflydone, losesIitsthink diminutive and delicate see over the ones I can’t any day. That’s just me. the fly loses its diminutive and delicate to cast above Iand beyondand theslightly fishes’ beyond the profile. I am in no way conceding the 2488 is a weak try slightly to cast above profile.

I am inthat no way conceding that the 2488I istry a weak feeding lane so the flies have time to sink both down hook, but modern hook, fluorocarbon tippets and fast action feeding lane so the flies have time to sink both d but modern fluorocarbon tippets and fast-action feeding as wellfeeding as intolevel theiraslane. rods allow for much more pressure to bemore put on a fish to betheir wellWatch as intothe their lane. Wa rods allow for much pressure put on a fish level their spot where your flies hit the water when you cast as comthese days, and one these must keep in mind that the hook has spot where your flies hit the water when you cast days, and one must keep in mind that the hook has to where theypared are when you they pull are them up atyou thepull them u in many cases become the weak in thethe system. to where when in many caseslink become weak link in thepared system. end of the drift. Theend fliesofwill end up much closer to you the drift. The flies will end up much closer than they started because they are tethered the leader, than they started becausetothey are tethered to the F I S H I N G T H E FJIUSJHUI B NEGE T H E J U J U B E E which is, in turn, tethered Casting beyond theCasting beyo which is,toinyou. turn, tethered to you.

I find the JujubeeI imitates and midge pupae larvae fishes’ will allow the flies drop through thetowater find themidge Jujubeelarvae imitates andlane pupae fishes’ lane to will allow the flies drop through th equally well and canequally be fished top column both the propertodepth as into the as well as i wellsuccessfully and can be from fishedthe successfully from thetotop column both asthewell proper depth of the water column to water the bottom, on proper lane. stickinglane. by lifting the rod tip up, the rod of the columndepending to the bottom, depending onHigh-proper High-sticking by lifting where the fish are feeding.

Midge larvae and pupae slightly above the water, will help youwater, to will help where the fish are feeding.

Midgeare larvae and pupae are horizontal slightlytoabove horizontal to the the most commonlythe available food on most trout waters, keep track of the drifting flies while also allowing for most commonly available food on most trout waters, keep track of the drifting flies while also allow particularly so during the leanersoshoulder seasons of shoulder fall minor in the directing of the drift.

Keepingof the drift. K particularly during the leaner seasonsadjustments of fall minor adjustments in the directing through spring. Having a pattern like the Jujubee that the leader and tippet as vertical as possible in the through spring. Having a pattern like the Jujubee that the leader and tippet as verticalwater, as possible in the can mimic either the pupalthe form in several without creating drag, will also help them through can larval mimicoreither larval or pupal form in several without creating drag, to willcutalso help them to cut t

MIDGE â– JUJUBEE MIDGE JUJUBEE â– 5

my go -to midge I carry a variety of colors sizes.ofTen dollars worth of es are my go-Jujubees to midgeare pupae pattern, and pupae I carry pattern, them in aand variety of them colorsinand sizes. Ten dollarsand worth materials will tie a lifetime supply. als will tie a lifetime supply.

theand water ter more easily getmore downeasily fasterand thangetif down the linefaster than if the line goes through the water at an angle. hrough the water at an angle.

J UIJDUGBEE E M I D G E JUJUBEE M I typically the-on small white pinch ypically use the small white use pinch indicators on -on indicators on (OLIVE) (OLIVE) leader, more the to help der, more tothe help me direct cast me and direct controlthe cast and control the drift than toa actually indicate a strike. I then watch ft than to actually indicate strike. I then watch #16-22 Tiemco 2488 Hook: #16-Hook: 22 Tiemco 2488 the fish closely as the flies drift into h closely as the flies drift into their zone for any their zone for any Thread: White 74-denier Lagartun a take.

Over the years I have become Thread: convinced White 74-denier Lagartun f a take. Oversigns the of years I have become convinced thattakes the big takes thatwhen are so noticeable when e big yawning thatyawning are so noticeable Two strands Abdomen: Two Abdomen: strands of olive Super Hairof olive Super Hair watching a trout eat your artificial are really the fish tryng a trout eat your artificial are really the fish tryone strand of black and one strand ofand black spitthethetime fly out.

By the time spit the flying out.toBy you see fish you see the fish Thorax: Black 8/0 Uni-Thread chomping showing bigmouth, white inside of Thorax: its mouth, Black 8/0 Uni-Thread ing and showing the bigand white insidethe of its Wing Case: already has the it (this is White Case: Fluoro FibreWhite Fluoro Fibre dy has the flyit and is trying to fly getand rid isoftrying it (thistoisget rid ofWing -sharp hooks become a clear advantage). sticky-sharpwhere hookssticky become a clear advantage).

Waiting the can indicator twitch can be too little, much g for the indicator to for twitch be tootolittle, much too late.

Strike gently at any indication e. Strike gently at any indication of an eat; most of an eat; most often by it can be foretold a more animated movement t can be foretold a more animatedbymovement from the or a language. change in its body language. he fish or a change in fish its body

5

6 ■CHARLIE’S FLY BOX TYING THE JUJUBEE MIDGE

1. Place the hook in the vise and start the white thread about an eye length back from the hook eye. Do not move the thread back to the bend yet, just let it hang one eye length back for the time being. You do not want to build a thread base, because the final fly is slender.

2. Grab two strands of olive and one strand of black Super Hair and pull them out of the clump. Line the Super Hair strands up and draw them between your fingers, stretching them just slightly to remove some of the kinkiness of the fibers and make them a bit easier to work with. Clip all three strands so their ends are even and lay them across the near side of the hook shank.

3. Bring the thread up and capture all three strands with a loop of thread along the near side of the shank. Pull the long front ends down as close to the hook as you can and continue wrapping back over the three strands all the way back to about halfway down the bend, taking care to keep them aligned along the near side of the shank.

4. Return the thread to the starting point, taking care to make a smooth thread base as you go. I try to make abutting turns of thread here as I move forward to keep the underbody smooth and flat and to completely cover the shank with a smooth layer of white thread.

JUJUBEE MIDGE JUJUBEE â– 7 MIDGE â–

7

7. Continue wrapping 7. Continue the strands wrapping of SupertheHair strands forward of Super Hair forward up to the starting point up to and the tie starting thempoint off with andthree tie them tightoff with three tight ring all three strands 5. Bring of all Super threeHair strands around of Super the hook Hair around turnstheofhook thread. Clip turns theofexcess thread.Super Clip Hair the excess flush with Super Hair flush with and up on thebend nearand sideupofon thethe shank. near Make side ofsure thetoshank. Make sure to the shank. the shank. directly up onpull thedirectly three strands up ontothealign three them strands per-to align them pericular to the tabletop. pendicular Pull to hard the tabletop. on the Super Pull hard Hairon the Super Hair perhaps even rock and perhaps the fibers even back rock andthe forth fibers a bit back so and forth a bit so line up in a they neat line littleuprow. in You a neat want littletherow. three You want the three ds lined up and strands not twisted lined up at and all. not twisted at all.

8. Whip-finish and8.clip Whip the-finish white and thread. clip the white thread.

egin wrapping6.allBegin three wrapping strands forward, all threetaking strands care forward, taking care ep the wraps parallel to keep to theeach wraps other parallel as you to go. each other as you go.

9. Start the black 9.

8/0Start thread theright blackon8/0 topthread of theright tie-off on top of the tie-off point. Make a turn point. or two Make overa turn the front or two edge over of the the front edge of the abdomen to assureabdomen that everything to assure overlaps that everything nicely. overlaps nicely.

8 ■CHARLIE’S FLY BOX [

10. Separate ten strands of Fluoro Fibre from the clump and cut them loose. Cut one end so all the fiber tips are square and tie them in to the top of the front edge of the abdomen with two turns of thread.

11. Pull the long end of the Fluoro Fibre back to shorten the front end so it is just short of the thread wraps holding it down.

12. Build a thorax with the black thread in the shape of an elongated oval, ending just short of the hook eye. Be sure you have a bit of bare shank just behind the eye to complete the rest of the fly.

13. Pull the Fluoro Fibre forward over the top of the thorax and tie it down with two turns of thread just behind the hook eye.

14. Divide the front ends of the Fluoro Fibre in half (five strands per side).

15. Pull half the Fluoro Fibre strands back along the near side of the hook, just slightly below the shank. Hold this side a bit below the shank and make a thread wrap over them to pin them along the side of the hook. The thread torque will pull the fibers up from below the shank to the side of the shank as you wrap over them.

JUJUBEE MIDGE â–

16. Pull the other half of the fibers back along the far side of the shank, but this time hold them slightly above the shank, so that the thread torque will pull them down and in line with the shank as you tie them down.

17. The wing buds should now be lined up perfectly along the sides of the hook shank as shown here. Build a small but prominent thread head.

18. Whip-finish and clip the thread.

9

19. Trim the wing buds just a touch longer than the wing case, taking care to keep both sides even as you trim them.

20. Top view.

10 ■ CHARLIE’S 10 FLY ■BOX CHARLIE’S FLY BOX J U J U B E E M I DJGUEJ U(OLIVE) B E E M I D G E (OLIVE)

J U J U B E E M I DJGUEJ U(ZEBRA) B E E M I D G E (ZEBRA)

Hook:

#16-22 Hook: Tiemco 2488 #16-22 Tiemco 2488

Thread:

White Thread: 74-denier Lagartun White 74-denier Lagartun Thread:

White Thread: 74-denier Lagartun White 74-denier Lagartun

Abdomen:

Two Abdomen: strands of olive Two Super strands Hairofand olive SuperAbdomen: Hair and one strand of blackone strand of black

Two Abdomen: strands of black Two Super strands Hairofand black Super Hair an one strand of white one strand of white

Thorax:

BlackThorax: 8/0 Uni-Thread Black 8/0 Uni-Thread

Thorax:

BlackThorax: 8/0 Uni-Thread Black 8/0 Uni-Thread

Wing Case:

White Wing Fluoro Case: FibreWhite Fluoro Fibre

Wing Case:

White Wing Fluoro Case: FibreWhite Fluoro Fibre

Hook:

J U J U B E E M I DJGUEJ U(BROWN) B E E M I D G E (BROWN)

#16-22 Hook: Tiemco 2488 #16-22 Tiemco 2488

J U J U B E E M I DJGUEJ U(RED) B E E M I D G E (RED)

Hook:

#16-22 Hook: Tiemco 2488 #16-22 Tiemco 2488

Thread:

White Thread: 74-denier Lagartun White 74-denier Lagartun Thread:

Abdomen:

Two Abdomen: strands of dark Two brown strands Super of dark Hair brownAbdomen: Super Hair Two Abdomen: strands of redTwo Super strands Hair and of red oneSuper Hair and and one strand of and white one strand of white strand of white strand of white

Thorax:

Camel Thorax: 8/0 Uni-Thread Camel 8/0 Uni-Thread

Thorax:

Red 8/0 Thorax: Uni-ThreadRed 8/0 Uni-Thread

Wing Case:

White Wing Fluoro Case: FibreWhite Fluoro Fibre

Wing Case:

White Wing Fluoro Case: FibreWhite Fluoro Fibre

Hook:

#16-22 Hook: Tiemco 2488 #16-22 Tiemco 2488 White Thread: 74-denier Lagartun White 74-denier Lagartun

JUJUBEE MIDGE â–

J U J U B E E M I D G E (CHARTREUSE)

11

J U J U B E E M I D G E (BLUE)

Hook:

#16-22 Tiemco 2488

Hook:

#16-22 Tiemco 2488

Thread:

White 74-denier Lagartun

Thread:

White 74-denier Lagartun

Abdomen:

Two strands of green chartreuse Super Hair and one strand of black

Abdomen:

Two strands of navy blue Super Hair and one strand of green chartreuse

Thorax:

Black 8/0 Uni-Thread

Thorax:

Black 8/0 Uni-Thread

Wing Case:

White Fluoro Fibre

Wing Case:

White Fluoro Fibre