The Improved MM Minnow

[Donald Schmotzer]

This fly continues to amaze me, it isn't so much different than a lot of other sub-surface flies, yet it will catch a wide variety of fish. When top-water isn't working....this  fly gets the call. When the wind seems to mess-up surface fishing...this one can save the day. I have changed the way I tie it over the last year or so and decided to pass along my changes....so here goes.
  8/0 thread (you can use 6/0)   size 8 or 10 hook   Two different colors of marabou 'your choice' (green/black, green/red, green/orange, black/red, and pink/black) work well   Flash...(either siver or gold)   Bead-chain eyes  (small dumbell eyes would work too)   Ca glue (or head-cement)
    I normally use a wet or streamer hook  size 10.....this example is a Daiichi 1280 size 8 (dry fly hook)     I used one size larger bead-chain than normal because this one is intended for smallies in the river current.
  01. Thread base back to the bend

  02. Tie in a contrasting tail of marabou / cut off excess

  03. Tie in the bead-chain eyes (figure eight)...drop of CA on hook between eyes helps to stop eye twisting

  04. Fold a 6" piece of flash in half and tie the center on the side of the hook behind the eyes

  05. Fold the front part of the flash over to the other side of the hook and tie in

  06. Tie in the marabou body/wing on top of the hook behind the eyes  (do not trim off excess)

  07. Twist excess marabou into a rope and pull between eyes and tie off just in front of eyes (do not trim)

  08. Pull marabou rope back over eyes and tie off behind eyes (neck)

  09. Cut away excess marabou
  10. Build a small nose then whip-finish just behind the eyes (neck)

  11. Trim flash just a little longer than the fly

  12.  CA glue (or head-cement) thread wraps underside of neck

  13.  I made the tail on this one just a bit shorter than I normally do (for river current)

  Those of you that fish droppers....This would make an execellent one (size 10 or 12 w/smaller bead-chain eyes)
  My favorite color and size 10 is pictured below. (These flys hold up very well....don't often come apart !!)

[jim cosgrove]

thanks for posting this nice simple well made fly.like a marabou clouser almost.nothing swims like marabou and it comes in all colors,got jigheads painted,couple hundred popper bodies made,just cant get into tying yet,even tho i 've been outta work a couple weeks.

[Donald Schmotzer]

 Thanks Jim for the nice comments. I am sorry you are out of work...there's a lot of that going around. I sure hope things pick-up for you soon........Tying your own flies takes the hobby way beyond fun/ you can taylor each fly to not only be the size and color you want, but to float or sink (slow or fast) etc. Once you get the hang of it, you just won't buy flies anymore. Good luck, I hope you can find a good job soon..........Don in SC

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

You got that right, Donald. I cant let a day go by that I dont try tying one fly or another.

Today I messed around with some ant patterns; gonna try em tomorrow and see if the fish like em.

[dick tabbert]

Neat I'll give er a try.

[Donald Schmotzer]

 Dick..........This one is a winner............Give it a try...........Don in SC

[Steve Totten]

Looks like a killer smllie bug.  Nicely done pix, good tutorial.

[Donald Schmotzer]

  Steve..............This is a great pattern in the river for Smallies. I started using a 5 or 6wt rod and tying the pattern on a size 6 for smallies. I like lead dumbbell eyes for the river (so it sinks the right amount in the current). The Smallies seem to like bright color combs and a lot of flash (I like four pieces of flash). Rocks that are right on the edge of the current/near still water is a favorite of mine. I strip the fly a good bit faster for Smallies than I do for pan fish. (favorite color combo is Chartreuse/Red or Chartreuse/Orange. I hope this pattern works for you as well as it has for me...............Don in SC

[Vince Fusco]

Great looking fly, Donald. I could see this one working well on Crappies too. Thanks for the pictures with your post. 

[Mark Domagalski]

Great post Don.  Thanks for the pics and instructions.   Mark

[Greg McWilliams]

DONALD GOOD LOOKING BUG!!!!!! GREAT JOB ON THE INSTRUCTIONS!!!!

[Jen Nayfly]

Great tie! Thanks for the step by step

[Allen Morgan]

That does look good!  I may have to tie up some small ones.