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Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Black Beauty Midge showing very slim thread body, fine silver rib, compact dark thorax, no glass bead in core formIllustrated reference

Nymph · guide 27

Black Beauty Midge

Pat Dorsey's sparse black midge-larva or pupa imitation with a fine rib and compact thorax.

Common size
#18–24
Common colors
black, silver rib, dark thorax
Imitates
midge larva, midge pupa
How to recognize it

A very slim black thread body, fine silver rib, and small dark thorax define the core Black Beauty. Glass-bead Mercury Black Beauty and flash-wing variants must stay labeled separately.

Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Black Beauty Midge showing very slim thread body, fine silver rib, compact dark thorax, no glass bead in core form
Illustrated reference

Black Beauty Midge reviewed side profile

A schematic profile emphasizing very slim thread body and fine silver rib.

View
reviewed side profile
Color shown
black body, silver rib, dark thorax
Look for
very slim thread body; fine silver rib; compact dark thorax; no glass bead in core form
Open full-size image ↗

On the water

Know when and how to fish it.

Use these tips as a starting point. The river, depth, insects, and fish behavior still decide the final presentation.

01

When to use it

  • In tailwaters and other midge-rich water.
  • When fish respond to a sparse dark subsurface profile.
02

How to fish it

  • Dead-drift near the feeding depth.
  • Use fine tippet and preserve the slim profile.
03

Mistakes to avoid

  • Calling a Mercury Black Beauty the core form.
  • Adding bulk that removes the midge silhouette.

Common variations

Small changes can make a different fly.

Three reviewed technical illustrations show the identifying profile, construction, and fishing orientation. They are schematic field-guide aids, not photographs.

Reviewed core form

A very slim black thread body, fine silver rib, and small dark thorax define the core Black Beauty. Glass-bead Mercury Black Beauty and flash-wing variants must stay labeled separately.
Colors shown
black, silver rib, dark thorax
Weighting
Weighting is identified when it defines the reviewed form; other bead or weight choices remain labeled variants.

Related patterns

Mercury Midge ↗Zebra Midge ↗Midge Patterns by Stage ↗

How this guide was checked

Fly information and photo sources.

Guide checked on 2026-07-12. Every image has its own source and usage record. Natural insects and hand-tied flies can vary in shape and proportion.

Pattern sources

Orvis NewsHow to Tie the Black Beauty Midge↗

Image credits