Zuddy's Jigawatt Minnow

So last summer (like most) I spent the bass season trying to perfect a new streamer. I'm more excited about this one than usual. It seemed that even the days when the bite was sub par on nearly all of my favorite streamers, this one not only produced, but produced very aggressive bites. I wish I could pinpoint exactly which part of this streamer made the difference... is it the "magic" of Enrico Puglisi's 3-D minnow fibers, or perhaps just having the right combo of materials? Maybe I'll eventually figure it out. One thing that is for sure, I like this pattern a bunch!

Step 1: Place a size (6)  TMC #8089 (or equivalent) hook in your vice and wind 3/0 Uni Thread to the rear of the hook as shown.

Step 2: Cut a clump of UV Extra Select Craft Fur (white) from the patch, comb out the under hair and tie it securely on the top side of the hook as shown. Total length of the fly from hook eye to tail should be 4" - 4 1/2" long.

Step 3: Add a few strands of Pearl Flashabou or Mirage Lateral Scale Flash to the tail.

Step 4: Tie in some UV Pearl Estaz (regular size or Grande size). Wind forward, tying off at the halfway point of the hook.

Step 5: Tie in an EP (Enrico Puglisi)  3" wide Craft Fur brush in UV white. Wind forward tightly approx. 12-15 wraps... ending approx. 1/8" behind the hook eye.

Step 6: Comb out the brush.

Step 7: Add another clump of Craft Fur (similar in size to the tail) as a wing on the topside of the fly and slightly around the sides.

Step 8: Grab a small amount of EP 3-D Minnow Fibers and tease the ends out so they are not perfectly even. Tie them in as wing just like you did with the Craft Fur in the last step. Cut off the remnant and repeat this step one more time.

Step 9: Build a head of thread and tie off with a half hitch.

Step 10: Using a hot glue gun, place a large glob of hot glue on the side of the head and quickly dab a 5/16" Pearl 3-D Molded Eye on the glue (no need to push it too tightly against the hook).

Step 11: Repeat the last step on the other side of the fly so the hot glue fills the gap between eyes. This may take some practice to get it just right. Hot glue is the only adhesive I've found that will hold the eyes in place permanently.

Feel free to email me with any questions. matt@mattzudweg.com
Thanks for your support, and I hope to see you on the water! - Matt "Z" Zudweg