Flies

CLOUSER  MINNOW

Origin

It was developed by Bob Clouser of Middleton,  Pennsylvania where he, his wife Joan and son Bob Jr. run a family owned fly fishing shop. Their shop provides guide services and hosts trips around the world.
Bob has developed numerous other innovative and highly productive patterns, all of which are for sale from his shop; many of the patterns can be fished in both fresh and salt water.
The Clouser Minnow can be tied in various combinations of sizes and colors to match the local bait fish.

Pattern

    • Hook     --  wet fly for fresh water or saltwater type, sizes 2/0 to 10
    • Thread   --  6/0 for fresh water and 3/0 for salt;  of color to match the                       fly pattern
    • Eye     --  lead barbell or brass bead chain to add weight
    • Body      --  crystal flash or flashabou and buck tail

Tying Instructions:

  • Wrap on a thread base and cement in place
  • Tie on the pair of eyes on top of the hook at the ¼ to 1/3 point of the hook
  • shank with figure eight wraps
  • Tie on a small clump of crystal flash ( 12 to 24 strands depending on hook size ) behind the pair of eyes – extend past the bend of the hook about ½ the hook shank length
  • Tie on a small amount of white buck tail behind the eye of the hook and also tie down behind the pair of eyes
  • Turn the hook over in the vice
  • Tie on a small amount of crystal flash or flashabou behind the eye of the hook – use various colors
  • Add another color of calf tail of desired color
  • Add another darker patch of hair behind the eye
  • Wrap thread to create a smooth head
  • Whip finish and cement the head

Flies  Imitated:  various types of bait fish of all varieties

How to fish: very fast irregular stripping

Gary Kutz, Golden State Flycasters, June 2006