SLF FLOATING MINNOW

Variation of Murray Wilson's "BMS" Pattern

The fly can be fished on the surface on a floating line or a sinking line for bottom dwelling species.



Hook:
#1 - 3/0 Owner Spinnerbait

Thread:
Flat waxed white and fluorescent pink

Materials:
Head - round white foam
Tail – SLF (Synthetic Living Fibre)
Body – dubbed SLF
Rib - silver tinsel
Eyes - silver/black prismatic

Instructions:

1. Crimp the barb and slip a short length of closed cell foam onto the hook shank.

2. Start the white thread behind the hook eye and lay down a short bed so that the foam is a snug fit on the shank. Whip finish, cut thread, cover the thread with a small amount of superglue and slide foam to the hook eye.

3. Start thread behind the foam and lay an even base of thread up to the bend and finish with the thread behind the foam.

4. Cut a small clump of SLF from the hank and hand taper one end by pulling some of the strands out slightly. Measure and cut the untapered end so that it extends from the foam to about one hook shank length past the bend. Tie in the tail starting behind the foam and finishing at the bend.

5. Tie in a length of silver tinsel at the bend and form a dubbing loop of thread about 10cm long and move thread back to behind the foam using spiral wraps.

6. Lightly dub SLF to loop and wrap forward to the foam and tie off with half a dozen wraps of thread. Trim off the excess dubbing.

7. Wind the tinsel forward using tight even spiral wraps and tie off behind the bead. Trim excess, whip finish and cut thread. Form a small sloping shoulder on the end of the foam with the pink thread, whip finish and cut thread.

8. Use a piece velcro with hooks to lightly tease out the end fibres of the dubbing.

9. Attach the eyes and cover the head area with a light coat of 5 minute epoxy.

NOTES

SLF is available in a wide variety of colours and the combinations are only limited by the tier's imagination. It is supplied in both hank and dubbing form. A wide variety of custom dubbing can be achieved by using a small electric coffee grinder to blend the materials. For highlight and flash try blending in some Angel Hair.

A sinking version can be achieved using the same tie and substituting a jiggy head for the foam.

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