Brad Bohen's Hang Time Optic Minnow

Brad Bohen of Musky Country Outfitters in Wisconsin designed this universal predator fly to help you catch all those fish at the top of the food chain: musky, pike, walleye, barracuda, snook, dorado, taimen...basically anything that eats other fish. They don't come simpler, Brad's pattern calls for several rounds of "Hair, Feather, and Flash" and an epoxy head.

Well, I can't help tinkering, so I've made a few tweaks.  I use Steve Farrar blend for the tail, which gives some easy extra length with a hint of flash, plus a rattle in a pearl body tubing sleeve, nestled under everything. This pattern is a proven winner for multiple species. Tied on a 4/0 Gamakatsu B10s hook, these cast very easily, at 4 grams in weight. I can tie them in 6" or 8" lengths.

A note on the "Fire Tiger" color: this is my favorite color for this pattern by a good margin, and something of a "comfort tie" for me, and I usually freestyle it. I mix and match components, but each tie has some combination of yellow, orange, chartreuse, and black. If you order more than 1 Hang Time Optic Minnow in Fire Tiger, you will get a unique variant for each fly ordered.

Offered with Brad's kind permission.