Myakka Minnow

Myakka Minnow

By Steve Gibson, Sarasota, Florida, submitted by Mike Cline.

Description

1st photo is a group of original style Myakka Minnows used for panfish and bass During the first decade of the 21st Century, angler and guide Steve Gibson of Sarasota, Florida created a pattern he christened the “Myakka Minnow”. Created to replicate small minnow forage preferred by the bass and panfish of the Myakka River watershed just East of Sarasota, the original fly was a small, epoxy coated fly with big eyes and a marabou tail. Gibson, or “Gibby” as he was locally known popularized the pattern while guiding and presenting at local fly fishing events. Over the years, Gibson and other anglers started using variations of the pattern for all manner of warm water and saltwater targets. After fishing with “Gibby” on several occasions I began tying saltwater versions of Myakka Minnows for all my trips to the Tampa Bay region. The convenience of UV cured resin makes tying the Myakka Minnows a breeze. The dense nature of the fly when fished with long sink tips and short (3-4’), stout (OX) tippets makes an exceptional fly for inshore grass flats and beach situations where the fly reaches depths quickly without any need for extra weight.

Tying Process

Tying the Myakka Minnow is a fairly simple process that is best accomplished with a true rotary vise. Although tailing material can vary, the easiest and most versatile to use for saltwater versions is some sort of fine flash material. Polar Flash is an excellent example. Flat braid is used to create the body and flat braid of a contrasting color can be used along the top of the body. Using fine monofilament thread tie tailing material just behind the hook eye and wrap back to the bend of the hook. Trim to desired length. Tie in contrasting color polar flash or braid at the hook bend of sufficient length to reach the hook eye and back to the length of the tail. Tie in a length of flat braid for the body at the hook bend and bring the mono thread forward to the hook eye. Secure with two or three half hitches. Using a bobbin hanger, hang the thread out of the way. Rotate the vise while holding the body braid and slowly build up a tapered body eventually finishing the wraps just behind the hook eye. Secure with mono thread but do not cut thread at this point. Bring the contrasting colored polar flash or braid forward over the body and secure tightly with thread before folding it back to the tail of the fly. Secure with thread from the tail to the hook eye. Finish with a couple of double half hitches but do not cut thread yet. Apply a thin, smooth coat of UV resin to the front 1/3 of the fly and cure. Add orange or red color to the throat area with and alcohol marker. Tack eyes on with a small dab of UV resin and cure. If you intend to apply markings along the body, apply a thin coat of resin first and cure. This prevents the braid from absorbing and diffusing the alcohol markings. Finish the fly by adding successive thin layers of UV resin to establish the desired tapered shape. Seal with head cement.

Materials

Hooks

Fly types: Bass/Warmwater, Saltwater, Streamer