Chironomidae: dazzle early season trout
Kevin Longard
Skagit River Flies
  It's almost time once again to take out the gear and start fishing our area lakes. This is one of the best times for the fly angler’s sport. After a long period of minimal food intake, trout are now "warming up" to the idea of feeding on a regular basis. Warming trends not only encourage fish to feed but also trigger the first major insect hatch of the year - the chironomid.
  Chironomidae is a member of the two-winged order Diptera and as an adult they closely resemble the hated mosquito without the biting mouth parts so familiar to us all. Chironomids have a four-stage life cycle: egg, larvae, pupae and adult. They are important to trout from larvae to adult stages. Trout take chiromomids during the pupal emergence stage.
 The larvae, which is often red or wine in color, is most commonly referred to as a bloodworm. This stage dwells primarily in or about the mud on the lake bottom. Bloodworms are important to fly anglers in early Spring and late Fall when lake turnovers occur. Fly anglers fish bloodworm patterns near the bottom with a slow hand-twist retrieve early or late in the season.
  When the chironomid begins to pupate it migrates to the surface wiggling awkwardly, frequently pausing, until it reaches the surface. At this point it hangs in the surface film and begins to emerge as an adult. Fish gorge themselves with these naturals during migration and emergence phases. This is a good time to be fishing. Slow retrieves or trolls throughout the water column are effective; my favorite method is to fish a floating line while keeping my pattern within inches of the surface. At the same time I utilize a slow rod lift, sliding the pupae along the surface. This is a very visual and exciting experience particularly on calm days when you observe your line moving ever so lightly as the quarry gently inhales your fly.
  The adult chironomid emerges from its nymphal shuck and slides out onto the surface. It then buzzes along the water before leaving the trout’s domain. A bodiless caddis is by far the best pattern I’ve found to imitate the adult. Casts directed at riseforms and left still or gently skittered can bring amazing results.
  It's a wonderful experience to be back on lakes to catch fish that respond to "matching the hatch" techniques. When you have good days, remember to return plenty of your catch to the water to feed and fight another day!