Brassie Nymph – Copper Wire Midge Pupa for Trout

The Brassie is one of the oldest and simplest midge patterns in fly fishing — and it's still one of the most effective. A copper wire body wrapped around a hook with a small peacock herl thorax. That's it. The copper wire imitates the segmented body of a midge larva and adds just enough flash and weight to get it into the feeding zone without additional split shot.

This pattern has been catching trout for decades because it works. No gimmicks, no trendy materials, no complicated construction. Just a clean, effective midge larva imitation that trout eat confidently year-round. Every fly box should have a few Brassies in it — they're the safety net for slow days.

When to Fish It

Year-round, with peak effectiveness in winter and early spring during heavy midge activity. Fish it deep as the bottom fly in a two-nymph rig, under an indicator in slow runs and pools, or as a dropper below a larger nymph. The built-in weight from the wire body means you often don't need additional split shot to get it down. Sizes 16-20.

Specs

• Type: Nymph — Midge larva imitation
• Hook: Standard nymph hook, fine wire
• Weight: Self-weighted from copper wire body
• Best for: Trout — tailwaters, freestone rivers, spring creeks
• Technique: Indicator nymphing, euro nymphing, tandem dropper rig

Why Anglers Stock This Fly

The Brassie has survived every fly fishing trend for a reason — it catches fish, period. The copper wire body adds natural flash and realistic segmentation that trout recognize as food. It's cheap, it's simple, and it works when nothing else will. If you don't have Brassies in your box, you're missing one of the most reliable trout flies ever tied. Hand-tied with quality materials by tiers with over 30 years of experience.

🎣 Building your midge box? Pair this with a Rojo Midge and Zebra Midge for complete depth coverage.