Aliosha tying a classic and nothing less than extremely effective nymph that we love to drop under our indicators. Materials that we use:

Martin Minnow

This fly is one of our go-to patterns for imitating minnows. It was developed by Argentine fly tyer and fisherman Rubén Martin. Its greatest advantages are its stable silhouette and extremely light weight, which allow us to work shallow waters with ease while maintaining quality of presentation.

Materials
• Any good streamer hook with a longer shank. Our preferred choice is the TMC 9395 series, in sizes 2, 4, and 6. We favor a straight eye, though it’s not essential.
• Two rooster feathers in grizzly. Any slightly stiffer feather will work well. We often use grizzly, yellow, orange, olive, or badger.
• Lateral Scale or any similar material to create a subtle body in pearl, copper, or gold.
• Copper wire to protect the body (optional).
• Krystal Flash for the “wing.”
• Bucktail for the abdomen and back — typically white for the abdomen and a darker color for the back. Olive is one of our favorites.
• 3D eyes and resin (preferably UV-cure). The eyes are a key feature of the fly, giving it a highly realistic look. We usually use either gold/yellow or pearl. Make sure to choose the size accordingly.

Tying Steps:
Begin by securing both feathers so that the shiny side faces outward and the feathers are perfectly vertical. Build up the body. Once the body is complete, add the flashy fiber wing and the bucktail to form the abdomen and back. Tie off with a secure knot. Finish by forming the head: attach the 3D eyes with resin and cure. One good detail is to add a drop of any red resin below the head.

Fishing Techniques
We usually fish this fly with a floating line and a slightly longer leader to improve presentation, targeting the banks year-round — especially during the start of the season. It’s also extremely effective when swung through shallow waters close to shore.