The Spineless Minnow Fly Fishing Pattern with Sam Looper

By Sam Looper

What Fish Will Eat the Spineless Minnow?

The Spineless Minnow was designed to target White Bass and Hybrid Bass in my local waters in Middle Tennessee. I grew up fishing a Rebel Crawfish for "redeye" in East TN and I wanted to design a small fly to imitate the wiggle action from the Rebel lure.

About the same time, I was tying a lot of Blane Chocklett’s T-Bone for Musky, and I wanted to tie a smaller version for smallmouth bass.

Development of the Spineless Minnow Pattern

In the first step, when shaping the tubing for the T-Bone and after I had attached the material to the hook, I could see the back half of a small minnow. I immediately found a Flymen 22 mm shank and created the dome shape for the head, and the Spineless Minnow was born. It took a few more months of development and dialing in all the right materials to ensure the fly swam true and didn’t spin or roll.

Order your Spineless Minnows online right now, right here.

I’ve personally caught several warm water species including Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Crappie, Rock Bass (redeye), White Bass, Hybrid Bass, Hognose Sucker, Blue Catfish, and the list goes on and on.

What's the Best Setup for the Throwing the Spineless Minnow?

I've fished this fly using a sinking line when targeting fish that are holding deeper, and I’ve used a floating line when targeting fish in smaller creeks or when I’m wading. The spineless minnow is buoyant. It sinks very slowly.

A 7wt rod with an aggressive/intermediate line gets this fly to the depth where the fish live in my local rivers and lakes. I’ve also used a 9wt and a heavier line, when the current is really moving. The fly is light enough to be thrown on a 4wt with floating line. I have customers that use this setup on small creeks and rivers as well.

Where are you going to use yours?