Ah, the Palomino Midge—what a killer little pattern for when trout are glued to those tiny midges. And let’s face it, that’s pretty much all the time, right? I’ve had days where this fly saved my butt when nothing else would even get a sniff.

Here’s how I tie it: Grab a short shank hook—straight eye works fine, no need to overthink it. Start with some fine thread, black or cream usually, depending on what’s hatching. I lean toward cream in stained water; just seems to pop better. Then, take a tiny strip of foam—just a sliver—and tie it in near the bend. That foam? Yeah, that’s the magic. Gives it just enough lift to sit right in the film where trout are sipping.

Next, wrap a grizzly hackle around that foam body. Keep it sparse, though—too much and it’ll sink like a stone. I learned that lesson the hard way after watching a nice brown turn up its nose at my over-dressed mess. The hackle isn’t just for looks; it pulses in the current like a real midge struggling to hatch.

For the wing, I like a little tuft of white foam or poly yarn. Not too big, just enough to give it that "emerging" look. Trout go nuts for that silhouette, especially when midges are popping. And hey, bonus—it makes the fly stupid easy to spot in low light.

When to fish it? Anytime midges are around, which, let’s be real, is always. But it really shines during those slow, fussy hatches when trout are keyed in on pupae. Even if you don’t see fish rising, toss it in the film anyway. I’ve had lazy trout slurp it down like it was the last snack on earth. Works in everything from slow spring creeks to tailwaters—just adjust your drift to match the current.

Simple, effective, and damn near foolproof. Give it a shot next time the fish are being picky. Tight lines!