Craig’s Jerk Minnow

Open on the hook grabbing vegetation of Florida’s fishy waters. Flashback to Paul MacLean coaching his brother to cast into the tight spots by saying, “You can’t catch fish in a bathtub.” Then, enter the parents of improvement-improvisation and imagination- and the stage is set for a step forward in fly fishing.

Seeing that Florida is also set with fish hooks designed for soft plastic worms, Captain Craig Crumbliss took that step forward. The Jerk Minnow, Crumbliss’s weedless baitfish fly, is now an important prop for fly anglers from Florida to Canada.

Crumbliss tied synthetics to the short, offset portion of the hook shank creating the baitfish body which extends back to cover the sharp hook. While Craig’s original recipe calls for Steve Farrar Flash Blend, new fly tiers are using various synthetics plus hackle and buck tail to update the original.

Whatever materials you choose, less is more and well placed wraps of thread will bind the materials to the small space more efficiently. Because of the offset curve of worm hooks, a rotary vice is helpful when tying sections of material to the bottom of the pattern. Add any of the new eyes then comb the fibers and trim to a realistic silhouette.

While a sinking line can be used to fish this pattern, Craig usually hands his clients a rod with floating line and a jerk minnow tied to a relatively stout leader with anon-slip loop knot. He coaches them to count down the fly as far as they can wait,then use rhythmic strips to create the up and down swimming pattern of a healthy fish / dying fish.

Suggested Materials
Craig’s Jerk Minnow

Hook: DOA Long Neck 3.5/0 or 5/0

Thread: Mono

Body: Steve Farrar Flash Blend

Eyes: EP solid plastic eyes