Fly Tying Inventory
Sparkle Minnow
A flashy baitfish imitation built almost entirely from synthetic materials. The dense flash body creates an incredibly bright profile underwater that mimics the reflective scales of minnows and juvenile fish, especially effective in off-color water.
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Materials
3XL streamer hook (TMC 5263), sizes 2-8
White or chartreuse 6/0 (140 denier)
Lead dumbbell eyes or bead chain eyes tied on top of shank
White or pearl Flashabou, tied long
Pearl or holographic Cactus Chenille or Estaz
White or silver Flashabou over body
Mirage or holographic Flashabou, 10-12 strands
3D molded eyes, silver with black pupil
How to Tie the Sparkle Minnow
- 1
Step 1
Mount hook in vise. Start thread and tie in dumbbell eyes on top of the shank about 1/4 back from the eye using figure-eight wraps.
Eyes on top cause the hook to ride point-up, reducing snags.
- 2
Step 2
Wrap thread to the bend. Tie in a generous clump of pearl Flashabou as the tail, extending 1.5x shank length.
- 3
Step 3
Tie in a length of pearl Cactus Chenille or Estaz at the tail base.
- 4
Step 4
Wrap the Cactus Chenille forward in touching turns to just behind the dumbbell eyes. Tie off.
Pick out any fibers trapped under wraps for maximum flash.
- 5
Step 5
Tie in a sparse overwing of Flashabou on top of the body, extending back to the tail tip.
- 6
Step 6
Add 5-6 strands of holographic Flashabou along each side as lateral flash.
- 7
Step 7
Build a thread head around and behind the dumbbell eyes, whip finish, and coat with UV resin.
- 8
Step 8
Apply 3D adhesive eyes to the sides of the dumbbell eyes if not using pre-eyed dumbbells.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeYxdVOgw4Y
Credit: Modern composite pattern