Bodkin / Patterns

Glass Minnow

Baitfish · Striped Bass · Bluefish · False Albacore · Jack · Sea Trout · Snook · Redfish · Trout · Smallmouth Bass · Intermediate · 2 versions

Classic Recipe

• Hook Tiemco 811S or Mustad 34007, 2-8
• Thread White or clear mono 6/0 or mono thread

Materials

• Belly White or polar bear-colored bucktail or Super Hair (1 sparse clump)
• Lateral line Silver Krystal Flash (2-4 strands)
• Back Chartreuse, olive, or tan bucktail/Super Hair (1 sparse clump)
• Eyes Small stick-on eyes (1 pair)
• Head/body Epoxy or UV resin (1-2 coats)

How to tie it

1. Lay a thread base on the front half of the shank.
2. Tie in a very sparse white belly clump under the shank, extending 1.5 shank lengths past the bend.
3. Add 2-4 strands of silver Krystal Flash along each side, then a sparse darker clump on top for the back.
4. Sparseness is the pattern. Glass minnows (bay anchovies) are nearly transparent, and a thin fly with resin over it reads as translucent, not empty.
5. Whip finish, add tiny stick-on eyes, and coat head and front third of the body with epoxy or UV resin for a slim, glassy head.
6. Trim the tail even; total fly length 1.5-2.5 inches.

Other versions

1 more in the app: Jig.

Tying videos

• Glass Minnow — McFly Angler (YouTube)
• Glass Minnow — Flymen Fishing Co. (YouTube)
• Glass Minnow — Giovanni De Pace (YouTube)
• Glass Minnow — Fly Fish Food (YouTube)
• Glass Minnow — Mustache Jigs & Flies (YouTube)
• Glass Minnow — Fishsafe (YouTube)
• Glass Minnow — Fly Fish Food (Fly Fish Food (tutorial))

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