The
Soluble Minnow is my go to nighttime snook fly pattern.
Designed to mimic a glass minnow, its translucency and hidden
hook makes it the perfect fly for snook that have seen it
all. Other aspects that make the Soluble Minnow so effective
is its durability and relatively easy fly recipe. I have
used larger versions during the day with much success and
have also found it very effective for many other species
including small tarpon, jack cravalle, redfish, seatrout,
lady fish, and even catfish.
The
first of several snook Ken caught using the Soluble Minnow
Fly.
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The
Soluble Minnow is the perfect glass minnow imitation.
Snook
suspended under a light can be amazingly hard to fool as
everything is illuminated for their scrutiny.
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Tyler's
first snook on the Soluble Minnow |
THE
SOLUBLE MINNOW
MATERIAL LIST
-
#6 Mustad Signature Hook (Big Game - Light C70S D)
- UTC
Clear Monofilament thread.
- Grey
Flash 'n Slinky
- M.O.P.
Root Beer Gliss 'n Glow
- 1/8"
Mirage Holographic Stick On Dome Eyes
- Epoxy
(I prefer Z Poxy)
A
note to tiers: This fly is all about translucency.
Use the materials very sparsely - especially the flash
material.
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Fly
Tying Instructions for the Soluble Minnow
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Step
1
Wrap
monofilament thread onto a #6 Mustad Big Game Light hook
from the eye to the point shown at left. If you have never
worked with mono thread before, use great care. Although
it has some stretch it is also very delicate. I use it in
the fly simply because it allows the material to show through
once the epoxy is applied. For the fly to look like a glass
minnow, you cannot use standard tying thread!
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Step
2
Tie in
grey Flash 'n Slinky leaving excess hanging over front of
fly.
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Step
3
Fold
over Flash 'n Slinky and tie down with mono thread. You
should be right at the hook eye. Folding over slippery synthetic
materials such as Flash 'n Slinky keeps them from slipping
and your fly from coming apart.
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Step
4
Next,
tie in four strands of M.O.P. Root Beer Gliss 'n Glow, fold
over, and tie off in the manner above. Whip finish. At this
point, I usaully tie up several dozen Soluble Minnows. When
I am done, I stick on 1/8" Mirage Holographic Dome Eyes
on either side of each fly, and begin the epoxy process. Trim
the fly like the one at left. It should be about 1 1/4"
long
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Of
course, ladyfish eat them too!!!
Capt.
Greg with a Matlacha Snook
Check
Out These Articles
by Greg Bowdish
on Night Time Fly Fishing
for Snook and Tarpon!!!
"Trout
Tactics for Wintertime Snook"
More
articles are on their way!!!
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A close
up of the Soluble Minnow. The M.O.P. Root Beer Gliss 'n Glow
and the Holographic Dome Eyes really catch the light, while
the semi translucent body helps hide the hook shank from scrutinizing
snook. Becareful not to allow the epoxy to creep up the materials
and close off the hook gap. Also, because this is such a small
fly, it is easy to close off your hook eye with epoxy if you
are not very careful. I usually use a toothpick to apply the
epoxy and use it very spareingly. An epoxy wheel like the
one below can really help when making many Soluble Minnow
Flies at one time.
Dianne
is another angler who got her first snook on fly using a Soluble
Minnow.
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