TYING A PEARL CHIRONOMID
Chironomids are an essential source of food for fish. There are supposed to be more than 10 000 species around the world. The chironomids can survive in most habitats, from small ponds to rivers and even saltwater. The size ranges from close to invisible up to #6 hooks. Here we are going to tie the Pearl Chironomid.
Materials for Pearl Chironomid
| Part: | Materials: | Size/Color: |
| Hook: | Akita | AK788BL #12 |
| Thread: | Veevus | White 10/0 |
| Body: | Mylar Tinsel | Pearl Medium |
| Rib: | Ultra Wire | Rust SM |
| Wings: | Goose Biots | Light Olive |
| Thorax: | Veevus | Black 10/0 |
| Gills: | Antron Yarn | White |
Video Instructions on How to Tie a Pearl Chironomid
Video coming soon.Slideshow on How To Tie a Pearl Chironomid
Step 1 – Build Up the Body
Start tying in your white tying thread close to the point where the thread is aligned with the hook’s barb. Tie in the rust-colored wire and the Mylar Tinsel for the rib and the body. Continue tying in the materials quite far down the hook’s bend. Take your fly tying thread back to where you tied it in. Make even wraps around the hook shank with the Mylar Tinsel to create the body of the chironomid. Complete the body with a few turns around the hook shank with the rust-colored wire.
Step 2 – Make the Thorax
Tie in your black fly tying thread and remove the white thread when it is secured. Move the thread back to the point where the body ends. Tie in one goose biot by the tip and the feather curving away from the hook shank. Build up a small thorax. Fold the goose biots over the thorax and tie them off close to the hook’s eye. Tie in a small amount of Antron Yarn with 8-figure turns in the head area. Secure your thread with a whip finish or a few half-hitches and some varnish. Trim the length of the Antron Yarn. The length should be the same as the length of the hook eye. Complete the fly with one or two layers of varnish over the body and thorax.
How to Fish the Pearl Chironomid
It is common to use a nymph indicator rig in the lakes when fishing with chironomids. You can also use large dry flies like the Wulff series. Let the fly sink and make small retrieves to make the chironomid imitation be dragged up in the water. This will imitate a chironomid rising towards the surface film for hatching. Stop retrieving and let the fly sink again.
