Bream fishing has always been a game of patience and observation. Experienced anglers know that Bream often prefer to inhale a static fly, rather than chase after one that’s rapidly moving. This behaviour inspired Craig Coltman to develop the Polar Fibre Minnow, a highly effective fly that has become a favourite for many in the fly-fishing community.

Craig’s original creation, featured in Flystream Effective Flies #45, is a variant of the Clouser Minnow but tied with Polar Fibre instead of the traditional stiffer bucktail. The Polar Fibre gives the fly a lifelike, flowing action in the water, and its soft material allows it to collapse easily as it’s inhaled by a Bream, increasing the chances of a solid hookup.

For February’s Fly of the Month, we’re highlighting a variation of Craig’s original creation, tied by Paul “The Fed” Fedeles using alternative materials. As Fed explains:

I changed the materials for this fly to what I had available. Craig used polar fibre (or craft fur) and pink thread, but I made do with grey and olive soft fibres, along with red woolly nylon thread.

Why This Works

Fed’s variation retains the essential characteristics of Craig Coltman’s original Polar Fibre Minnow: mobility, durability, and its ability to entice Bream with a subtle, static presentation. The soft grey fibre tail and olive wing provide excellent contrast in the water, mimicking small baitfish. The addition of the green/pearl Sparkle flash body creates the right amount of shine to catch a fish’s eye without being overly aggressive.

One of the key features of this fly is the use of red woolly nylon thread, which gives the fly a slightly different look compared to Coltman’s use of pink thread. This small change, along with the brass dumbbell eyes, creates a balanced, weighted fly that sinks naturally with a subtle darting action—perfect for targeting Bream in both tidal estuaries and saltwater flats.

How to Fish It

Bream are notorious for being wary and cautious feeders. To effectively fish this fly, let it settle in the water and minimise movement. Small twitches and long pauses are often the most effective techniques to entice a Bream to inhale the fly.

Fed’s Polar Fibre Bream Fly Variation works well in both shallow waters and drop-offs. Cast out and let it sink to the desired depth, then retrieve it slowly, allowing the materials to pulse and shimmer in the water.

When tied on a size 6 long shank inverted eye hook, the hook rides point-up, reducing snags on the bottom and increasing hookups in shallow, rocky environments.

Materials

• HOOK:Size 6 long shank inverted eye saltwater hook. Can be tied with size 4 jig hook.
• EYES:5/32 brass dumbbell
• THREAD:Red woolly nylon
• TAIL:Grey soft fibre
• BODY:Green/pearl Sparkle flash
• WING:Olive soft fibre

Tying Instructions

Complete these steps for all hooks before proceeding to the next phase.

1. Begin by crushing the barbs on the hook.

Tip: Bream have very hard mouths, so de-barbing helps with better hook penetration.

2. Secure the dumbbell eyes on top of the hook shank, leaving enough room at the front for the wing material.
3. Use thread wraps to hold the eyes firmly in place.
4. Tie off the thread with a whip finish.
5. Coat the thread wraps with Sally Hansen’s Hard as Nails for extra durability.

1. Reattach the thread behind the dumbbell eyes.
2. Cut a generous amount of soft grey fibre.
3. Tie in the grey fibre starting behind the dumbbell eyes, securing it back to the bend of the hook.

4. Take around eight strands of sparkle flash and tie them in along the full length of the hook, extending back to the bend.
5. Wind the strands forward, creating the body of the fly.

Tip: Don’t trim the excess flash, as you’ll use it later.

6. Coat the body of the fly with UV resin and cure it under a UV light.
7. Flip the hook upside down.

8. Tie in a clump of olive soft fibre in front of the dumbbell eyes.
9. Fold the excess sparkle flash back toward the bend of the hook.

10. Use the thread to create a small head at the front of the fly.
11. Whip finish to secure.

12. Coat the head and body with UV resin for extra strength and durability.
13. Cure the resin with a UV light.

14. Trim any excess sparkle flash and fibre to create a neat, streamlined fly.