Bodkin / Patterns

Bluegill Belly Scratcher Minnow

Streamer · Largemouth Bass · Smallmouth Bass · Panfish · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Streamer/stinger hook (Fulling Mill 36040 or Gamakatsu B10S), 2
  • Thread White 140 denier

Materials

  • Beads Plummeting tungsten beads (gold) (5/32 & 1/8 in)
  • Tail Grizzly rabbit zonker strip (one shank length)
  • Body Ripple Ice Dub, mother of pearl (as needed)
  • Head (rear) Bruiser Blend Jr dubbing, cream/olive (as needed)
  • Head (front) Bruiser Blend Jr dubbing, alpha wolf/olive (as needed)
  • Eyes 3D holographic eyes (7/32 in)
  • Markers Olive, orange and black fly-tying markers (-)

How to tie it

  1. Slide the two plummeting tungsten beads to the hook eye to load the head with weight, so the fly jigs and rides hook-point up, scratching the belly along the bottom.
  2. Tie in a grizzly rabbit zonker strip at the bend for a wiggling tail about one shank length long.
  3. Wrap Ripple Ice Dub forward to build a flashy pearlescent body.
  4. Spin the rear then front Bruiser Blend dubbing in loops and brush out to form a full baitfish head, brushing fibers rearward.
  5. Glue on the 3D holographic eyes, one per side, at the front of the dubbed head.
  6. Color the top of the head with olive and add orange gill and black bars with markers to mimic a bluegill, then trim the head to a baitfish taper.

Tying videos

← All fly patterns