I was fishing in one of our local "put and take" urban ponds for planters (my local river is blown out with muddy run-off) Anyway, the guy next to me wash out fishing me about two to one. Since we were using the same presentation (sinking line, short strips) I asked him what fly he was using. He was a little embarrassed, saying "oh its nothing much... just something I threw together. It doesn't look like much, but I have had a lot of success with it". Well, I got him to show me his bug, and it WASN'T much... but it certainly was catching fish. He gave me a fly to of my own, and I am passing it on to you, along with a name: "Minute Minnow" because it takes about a minute to tie it.
Hook: Size 12 3x streamer Thread: Dun Flat Waxed Nylon Weight: Several wraps of lead behind the hook eye. Bead optional (his fly had no bead) Tail: Short, Black Marabou (chick-a-bou (chicken marabou) is perfect) Body: A medium gray dubbing with purple and red highlights (see mixing instructions below) Head: Tying thread Instructions: I made a good match of his dubbing by hand mixing Spirit River Dazel-Tron taken from the soft pack they sell: 1 part white, 1 part Black, 1/2 part Gray or Gray rabbit fur, with a pinch red, and a pinch of purple from the Spirit River Soft Pak Pseudo Seal. Any similar antron dubbing you have should work. The result is a middle gray body with the slightest hint of purple. Dub the body thick, tie off, then brush body with an old toothbrush so that the body is slightly fuzzy. In the water, this gives the fly a transparent "fleshy" look. I think this fly is a good imitation of the minnow used for mosquito control. Or perhaps it just looks like something good to eat!
