Tube Fly: Polar Hair Minnow
This tube fly tutorial was taken from tubeflies.com and was written and photographed by Brian Cavasin.
As spring gradually forces winter to retreat, ice and snow give way to open water. These areas of open water, particularly those with a southern exposure, warm up more quickly than other spots, and this warming trend attracts predator species such as bass, pike, muskie and even trout. Think of it as a 'food chain" based on temperature - sunlight warms the water, small minnows become more active, feeding on midges and invertebrates, larger panfish feed on these minnows, and this activity in turn attracts the attention of large, sometimes toothy predators whose metabolisms are just waking up from the winter doldrums. In these situations, a searching pattern that can cover a lot of water quickly while being large and visible can generate a lot of action, much like fan-casting a spinnerbait. As Michigan predator species begin the long wake-up process and start feeding aggressively, the Polar Hair Minnow makes an excellent attractor/searching pattern
Materials needed - Eumer's size small plastic tube. Polar hair or icelandic sheep hair in white, chartreuse, red, etc. Krystal flash in pearl or chartreuse - small or micro size. Stick-on prismatic eyes. White thread. Clear caulk or 5 minute epoxy.
Step #1: Fix tubing in vice. Overwrap thread to attach to tubing, and build a flat base of thread to prevent hair from sliding.
Step #2: Clip a long section of polar/sheep hair from the patch, and wrap cut end onto tubing (a light color to represent the belly works well here). Make sure the tail- end of the wing is not all one length, but slightly uneven. This helps give the fly a tapered teardrop or almond shape.
Step #3: Tie in another clump of white polar/sheep hair, almost on top of the first clump. This is a "high-tie" fly that shows a big profile without a lot of bulk or weight, making it perfect for the repeated casting needed for searching bays and backwaters. Tying clumps of fur on top of each other helps build a tall head.
Step #4: Accent the wing with a few strands of Krystal Flash in pearl, peacock or chartreuse. Remember that the polar hair is very fine, and the wing accent should be likewise, to prevent too much flash. Two full-length strands of Flash were used here, folded in half and trimmed to length. Accent should extend slightly beyond the wing - no more.
Step #5: Tie in a clump of your colored polar/sheep hair - shown as chartreuse here. This clump should be tied in high like the others, to complete the high profile. Whip-finish or half-hitch, and then clip thread. When the wing fibers are all stroked back into place, the fly takes on the typical oblong/almond baitfish shape.
Step #6: No baitfish pattern is complete without eyes. Attach a stick-on prismatic eye on one side of the head, along with a light coating of epoxy or clear adhesive caulk. This helps the fly keep its distinctive high profile, and keeps the eyes from coming off after a cast or two. Do one side at a time, and allow to dry before flipping over to complete the other. Your Polar Hair Minnow is complete and ready to fish.
The Polar Hair Minnow can be fished slow or fast, crawled over weedbeds or sunk deep and stripped like a frantic baitfish. The body of light hair pulses and breathes with each strip, looking alive and ready to flee. It's a pattern almost as useful as the Clouser Minnow, a simple body outline that mimics the shape and action of most critters bass, pike and trout like to eat. Michigan waters will be thawing out in short order - tie up a few of these and get ready to wet them when the ice disappears from your favorite hotspot!
