Fly Tying Inventory
Thin Mint
A marabou and flash streamer that blends the best qualities of a Woolly Bugger with added flash and color variation. The combination of black, brown, and olive with a nickel bead creates a versatile pattern that suggests leeches, crayfish, and baitfish.
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Materials
2XL-3XL nymph/streamer hook (TMC 5262), sizes 6-10
Nickel or silver tungsten bead, sized to hook
Black 6/0 (140 denier)
Black marabou plume with olive and brown marabou mixed in
Pearl or holographic Flashabou, 6-8 strands in tail
Peacock herl, 4-5 strands wrapped forward
Grizzly saddle hackle, palmered through body
How to Tie the Thin Mint
- 1
Step 1
Slide bead onto hook and mount in vise. Start thread behind bead and wrap to bend.
A tungsten bead helps the fly sink faster in current.
- 2
Step 2
Tie in a tail of black marabou, about one shank length. Mix in a pinch of olive and brown marabou for color depth.
- 3
Step 3
Add 6-8 strands of pearl Flashabou to the tail, extending slightly past the marabou.
- 4
Step 4
Tie in a grizzly saddle hackle by the tip at the base of the tail.
- 5
Step 5
Tie in 4-5 peacock herls and wrap them forward as a body to just behind the bead.
Twist the herls into a rope with the thread for added durability.
- 6
Step 6
Palmer the grizzly hackle forward through the body in 4-5 evenly spaced turns. Tie off behind bead.
Stroke hackle fibers rearward as you wind to keep them swept back.
- 7
Step 7
Trim excess hackle, build a small thread collar behind bead, whip finish, and apply head cement.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4xwjIqI4AA
Credit: Twin Lakes Special variant