Do you love big bluegill?

The Improved MM Minnow

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 !!)

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by jim cosgrove on March 7, 2013 at 4:49pm

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.

Permalink Reply by Donald Schmotzer on March 7, 2013 at 5:17pm

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

Permalink Reply by David, aka, "McScruff" on October 8, 2013 at 7:49pm

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.

Permalink Reply by dick tabbert on March 7, 2013 at 4:52pm

Neat I'll give er a try.

Permalink Reply by Donald Schmotzer on March 7, 2013 at 5:28pm

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

Permalink Reply by Steve Totten on March 7, 2013 at 5:07pm

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

Permalink Reply by Donald Schmotzer on March 7, 2013 at 5:44pm

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

Permalink Reply by Vince Fusco on March 7, 2013 at 7:26pm