HOW TO TIE THE POPPER MINKIE

Small roach, perch and to a lesser extent sticklebacks make up an important part of the trout’s diet, especially when other items such as corixa and buzzer become less plentiful. Even when there’s no dramatic fry-feeding, trout will often pick out a small Floating Fry pattern. The Popper or Suspender Minkie is particularly effective at such a time and can be tied in a range of pale and natural hues. While the clue to the fly’s main material is in its name, other types of fur are also very useful. For really small patterns, especially if you want them to be nice and slim, pine squirrel works particularly well. With its thin soft-tanned skin it makes a very flexible wing. The only trouble is that it isn’t available in pale shades, just plain brown and dyed olive plus a range of brighter colours that aren’t really appropriate for a pattern intended to imitate a small UK coarse fish.

HOOK: Size 6-8 wet fly or 8-4 longshank

THREAD: White 6/0 Tail Pearl Krystal Flash

BODY: Green pearl or blue pearl Lite-Brite

WING: Grey, brown or white mink strip

HEAD: 5-7 mm white Booby eyes

EYES: Stick-on decals or epoxy eyes

1. Apply close turns of lead wire along shank. Secure with thread then attach a length of 7mm Booby foam so it projects over eye.

2. Trim waste end of foam to a taper then cover with thread. Wind thread down to bend then catch in strands of dark pearl Krystal Flash.

3. Trim ends of Krystal Flash so that tips are not all level. Dub on pearl Lite-Brite and wind along shank to form a tapered body.

4. Stop winding dubbing a short distance from foam section to allow room for wing. Take grey mink strip and catch in upside down.

5. Secure end of mink with tight thread turns then cover bare thread wraps with pinch of dubbed Lite-Brite. Cast off thread at the eye.

6. Reattach thread at rear of body then pull mink strip over the top. Part fur then wind thread directly onto the strips bare skin.

7. Cast off thread with a whip finish applying Superglue on thread turns. Apply a bit of Superglue or UV cure resin in front of wing.

8. Apply drop of Superglue either side of head then attach a small decal or epoxy eye to each side. Use needle tip to position eye.

9. Once eye firmly in place, add coat of either clear varnish or UV cure resin. Dab body behind eye with a red pen to suggest gills.