Fly of the Month Bob Ireton brings together his experience in fly fishing, aquatic entomology, and knowledge of fly tying techniques and materials, to design and tie durable and effective flies.

   Volume 6,  Issue 10                                                          October   2005

GLO MINNOW

Fly, Text, and Photography by Bob Ireton

We are starting to see new fly tying materials on a regular basis. One of these materials is UNI Glo Yarn. After being exposed to a good light source, it actually glows in the dark! Think of the possibilities!  Sometimes we are fishing at dawn or dusk, or even at night. The water can be a little off color after a rain. And as the depth of water increases, the amount of light decreases. You may be thinking of other possibilities, also. I have utilized this great new material to tie a minnow fly. I’m sure you will have other patterns in mind, like Clouser Minnows, Woolly Buggers, etc.

 MATERIALS

Hook – Daiichi 1720, Dai-Riki 710, Mustad 9672, Orvis 1526, TMC 5263, or equivalent.
Size – 6-16.
Thread – White, 6/0 or 8/0.
Weight – Lead wire.
Eyes – Lead barbell.
Tail – White UNI Glo Yarn.
Ribbing – Pearl oval tinsel.
Body - White UNI Glo Yarn.

 TYING STEPS -  click on pictures for larger view

1 – Mash down barb, if desired. I am using a Daiichi 1720, size 10 for this fly. Place the hook properly in the vise. Attach the working thread behind the hook eye, and lay on a good thread base. Stop above the barb, and tie a half hitch. Wrap some lead wire around the hook shank, leaving space for the eyes. Mount the eyes above the shank, against the lead wraps. Secure the eyes with figure eight wraps. Dab some super glue top and bottom on the thread holding the eyes.
2 – Wrap thread to cover the lead, forming a ramp on each end. Coat the thread wrapped lead with Dave’s Flexament. Cut enough Glo Yarn to form a tail four pieces thick of the yarn, and the length of the hook shank. Tie this in above the barb. Tie a half hitch.
3 – Now tie in the materials for the ribbing, and the body. A material holder helps here. Tie a half hitch.
4 – Bring the thread forward, and tie a half hitch behind the hook eye. This step is necessary if you will be using a rotary vise for the next part. Palmer the Glo Yarn forward, building a tapered body. Wrap the yarn around the eyes also. Tie off the yarn, leaving a piece on the tag end. Cut off excess yarn, and tie a half hitch.
5 – Now palmer the rib forward, and tie off. Cut and remove the excess ribbing. Fold the tag end of the yarn over the shank, between the eyes, and secure with the thread. Bring the thread forward of the eyes, and form a ‘nose’. Tie a half hitch against the front of the eyes, then a whip finish forward towards the hook eye. Cut off and remove the working thread.
6 – Put some head cement on the ‘nose’ of the fly. Using a pair of pliers with smooth, flat jaws, vertically flatten the body behind the eyes. This fly looks a little ‘different’as we see it in the vise. But the lead barbell eyes on top of the hook shank will cause the fly to ride ‘hook up’ in the water. Does it look better now

Copyright © 1998 - thisyear The Buckeye United Fly Fishers, Inc. Cincinnati, OH 45242