When outdoor writer Norm Zeigler was in Boulder to do a program for the Boulder Flycasters/Front Range Anglers he talked a bit about his Schminnow pattern developed for Snook fishing on Sanibel Island in Florida. Interestingly enough it is also a good bass and trout fly when various color combinations are employed. For instance, it's a very good imitation of a hellgrammite tied in black with a slightly longer tail.

According to Norm, "it's so simple to tie that it's virtually klutz proof". In its original form it uses a white clipped marabou tail, a perl white chenille body, and black monofilament eyes. It's an attractor pattern that "looks like a cross between a shrimp and a glass minnow with a bit of sand flea thrown in."

Because it's un-weighted, it lands softly and swims a few inches below the surface on a floating line. Stripping in line at various speeds causes the fly to dance enticingly through the water.