My first minnows, terrible but a start

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ll/minnows.jpg

I wasn't gonna post pictures of them because they are simply terrible but thought I would show my progress because I will tie more. I tried a dozen times to make them like the Mustad Minnow and failed miserably as you can see, I tore apart more than I kept. So I switch to using beads under the mylar and it gives a nice body shape and is a lot easier. Now I can put them on jig heads and not worry about the shape being so terrible.


My progress in tying them is from left to right. I started with jig heads which was a big mistake and ended with what I think actually looks pretty good, for as bad as I started anyway. I have along way to go with them. The last 2 are by far the best ones but all 3 on the right aren't too bad. Will fish them if I don't totally decimate them when I add eyes and stripes.

I will be putting gills, eyes and stripes on the last 3 though just to practice on my don't care if I mess them up jigs.

Any suggestions on making them better are very welcome as I have no clue right now where to go from here. Definitely tell me what you think. Can't be any worse than what I already think of them.

Here are a couple from Fly Anglers OnLine, Your Complete Internet Flyfishing Resource.
fish_4_all, If you go to flyanglersonline.com and type in minnow in the search box you will see how the VM is tied. #13. "Virtual Minnow - #273 FAOL" . You might like the hot glue method for your weaving. Make a plaster mold and inject the hot glue .
Attachment 25983
Virtual Minnow By Barry Ord Clarke


Attachment 25984
Corsair Silly Minnow By George E. Emanuel

I like the hot glue idea, will have to see if I can make it work for me. Might combine it with a bead and the glue to get the shape without so much work.

Try using E-Z Shape Sparkle Body, Much better Than hot glue.

DC,
The hot glue is for the underbody and maybe a wide base for the weaving. I don't know if EZ Shape is hard enough . Is it easy to work with ?

better then i can do!

So far I think it is gonna be easiest to use the beads but maybe a combination of the two or 3 will give me better body shapes. Who knows, the beads work well enough so far so I can experiment now.

The E-Z will get hard, and as far as working with it keep your fingers, tools wet, It is like all other materials, the more you work with it the better your results, But does work, and holds up well.

Flatten a tube jig in a vise.

I'd been lookin at these minnow's and was thinking back ta when I'd walk around the pound's and c those Little flathead's with the white spot on'im then a friend called Me up last night and wispered Hey Flat I know where there's some crappie at up ta 2 1/2 lbs in water so shallow their back's are drying out needless to say I almost wet Myself ,but held My excitement in quite well Man I don't know if I can make it after alittle begging I gave in alright I'll go with ya,couldn't sleep all night woke up early pouring and painting so! this is what I'm taking for My self defense in shallow waters to beat'im off if they start bit'in My feet!A Uglyboy flathead minner in fllake and crystal-flash.

Hey Fish what if I made you a little mold that had a body shape in it with a injection hole you just put the hook in close and use hot glue to form the body?

That is a beauty for sure. Maybe I should have had you paint all those ones you sent. I will never match that. The tie I can do, the paint job is another story. Oh and don't let me forget to order some of those eyes. Much easier than anything I was gonna do.

Oh and I take full responsibility for coming up with this one!

That is an option but I would have to get a few of them fish here and get a body shape. I know there are shiners here but the last ones I saw were more round than anything. I think between the beads, your jig heads and my determination to find the right pattern we will find something that makes the mylar work.

I have made a mold in the past though and one thing is for certain, it needs to be smoother than glass for the glue not to stick to it. I ripped up 2 molds and probably 50 jigs trying to make a glue egg in a mold.

Unless the mylar isn't actually that good to use. I am beginning to think that I am making this too complicated looking at your uglyboy. A little flash and a nice paint job might be easier, and less expensive than using Mylar tubing.

Man you got to use release agent and you can pull it off the concrete.