Griffith’s Gnat

The Griffith’s Gnat is one of the most trusted midge patterns in fly fishing, fished around the world for its simplicity and uncanny effectiveness. Craig Mathews of Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone created it as a tribute to his friend George Griffith, a devoted angler of Montana’s Madison River.
Designed to imitate a tiny midge cluster or mosquito, the fly is typically tied on a size 18–22 hook. Its body is formed from sparse black dubbing, wrapped with fine hackle fibers that give it a natural, buggy silhouette. A few white or cream hackle tips—or a small tuft of white poly yarn at the head—provide just enough visibility for the angler without compromising the fly’s delicate footprint. Despite its minimalism, the Griffith’s Gnat    remains a go‑to pattern whenever trout are sipping small insects from the surface.