Sometimes you forget about some flies that you fished and tied and enjoyed simply because you moved to other patterns and experimentations. Doesn’t mean the flies aren’t any good, all though sometimes that is the case, it is just that human beings always need to search for something new. Something not developed, something not know (at least to them) and something different. So, you leave some patterns behind that are good patterns but you are looking for something….. more. Such is the case with this weeks fly. I first taught the Myakka Minnow back in 2006 and had fun fishing this pattern but somewhere along the way it slipped out of my box and out of my thoughts. Until, this past winter when a friend (I have not met yet) sent me some Myakka Minnows that he tied up for the waters he fishes in Florida. I immediately looked up the fly and started looking into it for fishing around my waters in central Indiana as well as a possible video for Dressed Irons. 
As I researched and dug a little deeper it re-surfaced in my foggy memory that I used to tie and fish this pattern! Rather than get upset about my deteriorating memory (as I get on in years) I chose to focus on the fact that I only have some much space in the memory warehouse and some things just had to be thrown out sometime back. Rational complete, I decided to revisit this pattern and do a video because it is such a wonderful fly on so many levels.!
First off, The Myakka Minnow is a very basic pattern and with basic materials (not even those in this video) anyone can tie this pattern. Second, it is a great fly for beginners as it is simple, easy to learn and not too demanding. A beginner can put a hook in their vise and in no time have a completed fly that they can take to their waters and catch fish. Which is the third point, it is a productive pattern. Although it was originally tied by Steve Gibson for Bass and Panfish on the Myakka Rive in Florida it was worked well in many other waters and even in coldwater streams. 
The pattern can easily be adapted to various waters to resemble various baitfish and thus catch fish. I have tied this in a simple Chartreuse and Pearl combination but if you do a search on the Myakka Minnow you will find all sorts of variations as well as articles and instructions from Steve Gibson on how he tied the fly. With all of the flies out there these days and some of them for very specific species and waters, it is nice to look at a simple pattern that can work under many different circumstances and remember that sometime the simple straight forward flies are the best. Now, I just have to keep from throwing that out of the memory warehouse!
| Hook: | Mustad 3609B, #4 – #12 |
| Thread: | Wapsi UTC Mono Thread .004 dia |
| Tail: | Marabou, Chartreuse |
| Body: | Wapsi Sparkle Braid, Pearl |
| Eyes: | WTP 1/8 Flat Silver Stick-on Eyes (could not find link for Amazon) |
| Body Coating: | Zap Z-Poxy 30 min Epoxy |
| Head/Weight: | 12 – 15 wraps of .020 Lead |
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If you would like to purchase some Myakka Minnows (in various colors) there are a number for sale (while supplies last).
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As always, if you have any questions about this fly (or any other) you can leave a comment on Dressed Irons or any of the videos I have produced and I will help in anyway I can. Enjoy!
Remember….. It’s Fly tying….. If you’re not having fun, You’re Doin’ It Wrong.