In eastern WA I have had good luck with chromies and simple patterns I tie with black v-rib, but I have found these patterns don't work as well for me on the west side. About 15 years ago I had some yellow chironomids I bought up in BC that worked great at Pass Lake. I tied some up that were similar but never could quite match the BC ones and they never worked as well. What are some of your favorite patterns? Do you find a difference east vs west of the Cascades?
Favorite Chironomid Patterns
- Thread starter Aufwuchs
- Start date
I like a chromie on the west side.
I’ve also had a lot of luck using light pink patterns on this side, which I think does a good job of representing the pink lady hatch many west side lakes have.
SF
I’ve also had a lot of luck using light pink patterns on this side, which I think does a good job of representing the pink lady hatch many west side lakes have.
SF
Is there shrink tubing behind the bead?
I don't frequent many west side lakes but of the few I have fished, the same midges I fish here in the Basin, and I fish in BC, have worked and have not worked, the same as they do and don't here and in BC. That was a run on sentence. I was fishing a chromie on a Mason County lake when I hooked and landed a large trout that had a barbed black ice cream cone stuck in his jaw, ah, wind knots. A black ice cream cone has been very effective, at times, locally.
Bloodworms seem to work most anywhere, sometimes.
Bloodworms seem to work most anywhere, sometimes.
hiddentalus
Smolt
For the Kamloops lakes I fish I seem to use slender and small antistatic bag patterns with red or black rib, a John Kent Coppertop pattern or a red butt with green body. I agree with using bloodworms as well - I put them on when my go to chironomid patterns are not working and sometimes do well.
Last edited:
