Fine fishing for emerging chiro in reservoirs: finding the right imitation

Chiro fishing is always a thrill!
Chiro fishing is always a thrill! © Enjoy Fishing / Jean-Baptiste Vidal

Chironomids are an important part of the diet of lake and reservoir trout. That's why you need a variety of models to find the right imitation for the moment. Here's a model that floats in the film of water and often hits the mark!

The emerging chiro

Trout feed mainly on chironomid larvae in all enclosed waters and reservoirs around the world. Chiro fishing should therefore always be attempted during a reservoir fishing session, even in the absence of a large hatch. However, it's especially when trout are showing their faces on the surface that you should try different imitations.

In this case, a small emerging chiro is always a safe bet. The next step is to find the size, color and floatation level that will work for that particular day. By observing what's blooming around you, or by trying out different models, you'll generally find the solution.

This model floats very low on the water, in the film, thanks to this assembly with a piece of foam that holds the fly in the film. When chiro fishing, trout are often selective. It's all about finding the right float. This imitation chironomid emerger floats lower than a well-known model known as the "shipman buzzer" and can sometimes make the difference when this stage of the insect is of greater interest to trout. These are two complementary flies that should be used wisely.

Imitation du chiro émergent monté par l'auteur
Imitation of the emerging chiro mounted by the author.

Assembly sheet

  • Tiemco hook 2487 size 12.
  • Use the black UTC 70 mounting line behind the eyelet, then attach a piece of cylindrical foam 2/3 min long.
  • Then come to the bend, and attach the olive-colored peacock quill, but it can be other colors, such as natural, rust, red...
  • Roll up the natural peacock quill and apply a thin layer of UV resin to solidify the assembly.
  • Attach and wrap a natural peacock herl to represent the thorax and make the final knot.
La pêche au chiro est une pêche fine très intéressante. Ici l'auteur au fer avec une belle truite prise sur un chiro émergent.
Chiro fishing is a very interesting type of fine fishing. Here the author with a beautiful trout caught on an emerging chiro.

Tips and tricks for success

I use this chiro alone if the gobbles are numerous, or on a train of two or three flies depending on the activity of the fish. If the trout are really active and take the stage where the chironoma is emerging, this pattern sometimes makes the difference and will be better taken than a pattern floating a little higher in the fiim, like the shipman buzzer.

If the gobbles are regular, it means the fish are active near the surface, and I set up two chiros. This one on the surface and underneath a model that will fish a little below the surface (between 10 and 30 cm), with a simple chiro model without beads. I often try to use two different colors to find what I like. Black and olive are often the most effective.

If the fish don't gobble much, I set up three flies with a lightly weighted nymph on the tippet, an unweighted chiro nymph on the stem, and an emergent or floating model on the surface. All on a 1 to 1.5 m tippet, spacing the flies 40 to 60 cm apart or shorter, depending on the bite and fish activity.

You need to find out how high the fish are feeding. If the fish are reluctant, you need to lower the diameter of your tip, but I rarely go below 14°, as this would cause a lot of breakage.

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