In this week’s “How to Tie” video feature, Madison with Fly Fish Food ties a versatile streamer pattern for this winter season, the Mayhem Minnow.
Learn About This Fly:
Difficulty: Intermediate
If you are hitting a wall for winter fishing and beginning to find nymphing monotonous and boring, it’s time to start fishing streamers. Although you may not be able to brag to your friends about how many fish you caught, you will be able to hang your hat on the ones you do. Many anglers become turned off by the idea of streamer fishing due to needing more gear, but by selecting the right patterns for the gear you do own, you can eliminate this excuse. The Mayhem Minnow is a streamer pattern you can fish on your normal nymphing rod in whatever style you please, making for the perfect change up this winter.
It is no secret that streamer patterns can also be intimidating to tie based off difficultly level. Scaling down to match your capabilities on the vise is a good way to practice honing your skills while being productive with your time. This pattern incorporates several materials that require their own unique methods of tying and make this a great streamer for novices to tie in batches. As mentioned in the description, have fun with the Mayhem Minnow and definitely do not shy away from playing around with color combinations.
A beautiful aspect of this fly is its minimal impact to what you need to bring to the water. You won’t need a new fly line, rod, or any special weight to effectively fish this, as a tightline or stripped presentation will be more than sufficient. Don’t be afraid to pair this with a larger stonefly nymph on warmer days or dropping down a few sizes and adding a smaller nymph off the back. There are many ways to skin a cat, and the Mayhem Minnow is a prime example of that in fly fishing streamers.
Ingredients:
- Hook: Fulling Mill 5130 Jig Force Long Barbless Hook – 8
- Bead: Hareline Slotted Tungsten Beads – Metallic Colors – Metallic Light Pink – 7/32″ (5.5mm)
- Thread: SemperFli Nano Silk Ultra Fine 50D 12/0 – White
- Tail 1: Fulling Mill Premium Marabou Blood Quills – Fl. White
- Tail 2: Rabbit Zonker Strips – Dark Olive
- Body: Fulling Mill Metallic Streamer Straggle – Jumbo – Silver Light Pink
- Leg 1: Loco Legs – Bonefish Pink
- Leg 2: Grizzly Micro Legs – Smoke
- Head 1: Bruiser Blend Dubbing – Dark Olive
- Head 2: Bruiser Blend Dubbing – White
Now you know how to tie the Mayhem Minnow!
Video and ingredients courtesy of Fly Fish Food.
