Wiggle minnow

By varying the materials used, the colours and size I have accounted for trout, bream, flathead, mangrove jack and even barramundi on wiggle minnows. The recipe I have set out below is just one version of this very adaptable fly and I would encourage you to individualize the fly to your own requirements.

Shuttle cock brush

Emergers which resemble a shaving brush became popular a couple of years ago and continue to get support in the fishing press. They are tied to represent a nymph that is trapped in the surface film just at that point of time when it is opening its wings.

Deer hair – brush type wings

A very popular technique for tying emerger flies. More recently brushes have been tied from CDC as well as deer hair and both work well. The secret of course is that both materials float well. Deer hair brush type wings are a very effective way of adding flotation to a fly just where you want it. As long as you have the buoyancy of the wing and the weight equation of the fly correct the wing will hold the fly in the surface film with the business end right in the trouts face.

Closed cell foam bodies

Closed cell foam is exactly what the name implies. It is for with multitudes of tiny closed cells each filled with air. The material that closed cell foam is made out of varies but it is heavier than water and therefore sinks, it is only the trapped tiny bubbles of air that cause the material to float.

Tails – dahlberg diver type tails

Dahlberg Diver tails are generally equal in length to between the length of the hook shank and two times the length of the hook shank. Avoid making tails too long because sometimes the fish will hit the movement of the tail and miss the hook completely. This is often referred to as a “short take” or “taking short”. Good marabou tails are a real bonus to a big dry fly because the marabou hangs in the water and has a lot of movement.