The Double G

The Double G is a sweet little pattern that can be used any time there are midges clustering up on the water. It is a must from late fall all the way through to late spring—with its simple materials, it floats well and, like clustered midges, is easy to see. Unlike a Griffith’s gnat, where you can miss trout because of the size of the hook, the Double G can produce many takes in one area because the trout that feed in seams and slower currents are looking for the clusters it imitates. Tied in larger sizes, the Double G is also a go-to attractor pattern that can be fished year-round, as it can be tied with many different colors in the middle section, such as bright yellow or red (it works well with black, too). When fish feed on midge clusters, expect very few refusals—especially in high mountain lakes where they mimic ants, but also in local rivers. One neat trick is to fish two Double G patterns at once, especially when there’s a picky eater—put these over the fish and bingo, they bite.

Materials
Hook: 2x long size 16
Thread: Lt. grey 70 denier Flymaster Plus
Tail: White poly
Rear Abdomen: peacock herl
Hackle: Grizzly
Middle Section: Lt. grey thread
Front Abdomen: peacock herl

Instructions
1. Tie in the polypropylene tail over the length of the shank and place a half hitch.
2. Tie in two strands of peacock herl and grizzly hackle, then wrap the herl forward 1/4 length of the shank and tie off. Wind hackle forward 1/4 of the way and tie off.
3. Wrap the shank with thread to 3/4 length.
4. Tie in two more strands of peacock herl and grizzly hackle, wind herl forward to behind the eye, and tie off.
5. Wrap the hackle forward to behind the eye of the hook and tie off.
6. Tie a nice CDC puff, finish the head, and cement.

Willy Self has fly fished and tied flies since the age of six. He’s a signature tyer for Solitude Fly Company and works with the Warriors & Quiet Waters program (see WQW profile, Fall 2011).