This technique shown here takes a few seconds longer but
still produces the same effect.
Materials List:
Hook: Partridge Bucktail streamer # 6.
Thread: Red/Orange Nylon 8/0.
Under body: Hot Melt glue.
Over body: Clear pearlescent Mylar tubing.
Wing/tail: Rabbit fur zonker strip.
Head: A small metallic golden ball.
Eyes: Prisma tape eyes.
Tying Instructions:
1. After securing the streamer hook in the vice run a small amount of
clear melt glue along the top of the hook shank as shown.
2. When the glue is dry (use 10 second melt glue) turn the hook
over in the vice and carefully form the under-belly of the
minnow. If your glue is too runny you can shape the body with a
wet finger and thumb. This also quickens the drying process.
3. Place the hook the correct way in the vice and then if you are
not satisfied with your minnow body shape, warm up the glue
with a lighter (taking care not too burn it) and re-model again
with wet finger and thumb. You can even shape it first with
scissors and then take off the sharp edges with the lighter.
4. Tie in your tying thread right behind the melt glue body. Cut
a 5-6 cm length of the mylar tubing and remove the string
core. Now place the sleeve over the minnow body, tie this in,
fraying strands to form the tail.
5. Select a strip of rabbit zonker fur and prepare the tail end by
cutting it to a point. Taking care not to damage the fur.
6. Part the fur with the help of a dubbing needle and moist fingers
at the desired position, and then tie it in over the same wrappings
used to secure the maylar as shown. Finish with 2 or 3 half
hitches. Apply a drop of cement to the tail whippings
7. Place the zonker strip back over the tail of the fly, and secure in
a material clip, this will keep the fibres out of your way and make
the next step easier. Make a couple of loose turns around the
maylar sleeve so as to catch it just in the right position for the
head. Now before you tighten these, pull the access maylar
through the tying thread so as to tighten the sleeve around the
body, and then pull down on your bobbin holder so as to
tighten the tying thread and secure it in place.
8. Once you have trimmed off the excess maylar use your lighter
again to burn off the rest. This is the advantage of using Nylon
tying thread,it has a much higher burning point than plastic, so
this should remain intact.
9. Pull the zonker strip over the body and while holding it tight,
separate the fur at the required position and tie in, but only with
a couple of tight turns, tight into the melt glue body.
10. Carefully trim off the zonker strip and burn the head once
again with the lighter. If done correctly you will see the
remaining head of tanned rabbit hide, shrink and disappear
under the tying thread,(giving a small neat finished head)
whip finish.
11. Stick on your chosen colour and size of Prisma tape eye and then
cement both tail and head whippings.
Variations:
Solid maylars can also be used to great effect with the melt
glue body for making traditional zonker patterns. ~ Barry Ord Clarke
Credits:
This fly is from a collection of flies produced for the
Partridge of Redditch Limited website. We thank them for
use permission.
