Can be fished all season but most consistent in the early spring to early summer period when chironomid emergences are most abundant. Black is the most common pupal colour in lakes. The rib can vary in colour and could include regular copper, silver, gold or green.
Size range - #16 to as large as #6
Can be fish at all depths of the water column ie. From within 12 inches of the lake bottom to within 12 inches of the surface of the lake. Rule of thumb for all chironomid pupa is to start fishing them closer to the bottom than the surface (trout more secure feeding deeper in the water column)
Material
Hook – Curved shrimp/pupa hook (Mustad Signature C49S) sizes #16-#18
Thread – Maroon 8/0 or 6/0 waxed
Rib – fine to medium dia. Silver wire
Body – Chocolate Brown Scudback
Thorax – peacock herl
Gills – White antron
Shellback – Ringneck pheasant tail fibres
Techniques and Equipment
Chironomid Pupa Without an Indicator (Naked)
Fly Line – WF6F Rio Windcutter Floating
Leader – 18 feet in length with Rio 5 pound powerflex tippet
Depth anchored – 12 feet
Retrieve – very slow hand twist with short quick strips interspersed
5. Chironomid pupa with indicator
Fly line – WF6F – Rio Windcutter floating
Leader – 15 feet long with Rio 5 pound Powerflex tippet
Depth anchored – 13 feet
Technique – pupa suspended 12 feet below indicator
Strike indicator – Thill brand
Chironomid pupa Sinking Line Technique
Fly Line – WF6I – Rio Aqualux clear intermediate/slow sinker
Anchored in 27 feet of water
Line sink rate @ 2.5 inches/sec
Wait time – 2.5 minutes to ensure chironomid pupa is at lake bottom before initiating retrieve
Retrieve – very slow hand twist
Leader – 7 – 9 feet with 5 pound Rio Powerflex tippet
Note : can use type 2 to type 5 sinking lines to fish this technique. The faster sinking lines reduces the amount of time you have to wait for the fly to get to the lake bottom.
Depth sounder critical to this technique
