Mylar Shinner by Chad Burrall

This is a good sinking minnow imitation that was inspired by a technique I saw in the Fly Tier's Benchside Reference... I call it the Mylar Shinner.  The spelling is inspired by a sign I saw on the way to a pancake breakfast in Chatham, OH... the sign said:  "Shinners for Sale"

Anyway, I tie the fly on a size 2 or 6 kink-shank popper hook and begin by lashing in a lead dumbell eye on the top side of the kink in the shank.  Secure the thread with several half hitches after the dumbell is lashed in.  Next, wrap the shank of the hook back to the bend with the thread.  Tie in some shiny estaz (or something similar) at the bend and wrap it forward of the dumbell and secure it forward of the dumbell with some hitches or a whip finish.

Now, cut a length of mylar tubing that is long enough to stretch along the underside of the hook shank from the bend up around the dumbell, and back along the top of the shank and extend back past the bend an inch or so (see picture).  At the point in the tubing where it bends past the dumbell, poke a hole in the center of the tubing and separate the mylar fibers enough so that the hook eye will push through.  Bend the mylar around the dumbell and tie in the top and bottom of the mylar at the bend of the hook.  Finish this section with a number of half hitches (or a good strong whip finish) and seal it off with some super glue or good head cement.

I also usually tie in thread again at the head and build up a head between the hook eye and dumbell to finish the appearance of the fly.

Different colors of mylar and estaz can be used creatively...