Overview

The Minnow Changer comes from Blane Chocklett, the tyer behind the Game Changer, and is built by Flymen on a series of articulated shanks that let the body flex at every joint. Strip it and it swims with a side-to-side wiggle; stop and it turns and hangs in the water like an injured baitfish.

Lighter synthetic materials shed water on the pick-up, so it casts noticeably easier than the original Game Changer while keeping the same lifelike movement. It imitates the small baitfish predators key on, such as minnows, shad, shiners and juvenile trout, and it works on trout, bass, pike and inshore saltwater species. It is especially effective in clear or heavily fished water where fish have learned to ignore stiff, lifeless streamers.

How to Fish It

• Strip and pause: make it swim with a few strips, then stop. The pause is when the fly turns and suspends, and it is when most following fish commit.
• Vary the cadence: short, sharp strips give a darting escape; long, slow pulls give a lazy swim. Change it up until the fish tell you what they want.
• Pick the right line: use a floating line in shallow water and along banks, and a sink-tip to reach fish holding deeper in runs and pools.
• Target structure: work it past boulders, weed edges, drop-offs and the tail-outs where baitfish gather.

Choosing Color and Size

Size 6 suits trout in smaller water, panfish and bass. Size 2 is the all-around choice for trout and bass, and 2/0 is built for big trout, pike and other large predators.

Match the forage in clear water with natural colors like Shad, White, Tan & Olive, Baby Rainbow and Rainbow. Use Purple & Black for low light and stained water, and bright attractors like Fire Tiger and Red & White when the water is murky or fish need a reason to chase.