Fly Tie of The Week Part Trey: The Clouser, Saltwater Fly Extraordinaire

A versatile, widely trusted, and flat out deadly saltwater fly, the Clouser Minnow has long been a favorite of Striper fisherman and Redfish anglers alike.  With endless color and material variation, this fly can be fine-tuned to suit a fishery near you. An easy tie, this is a great fly to introduce your tying abilities to the saltwater spectrum.

Step 1: Place a size 2-10 standard saltwater hook in vice.

Step 2: Attach and wrap thread to 1/3 distance down hook shank.

 

Step 3: Tie in dumbbell eyes (red, yellow, pearl) by figure eight wrapping over middle of eyes and shank. Use tight wraps to ensure a solid hold, and ultimately the eyes should be perpendicular to the hook shank, approximately 1/3 the length of the shank down from eye of hook.

 

Step 4: Wrap thread to two eye lengths behind eye of hook. Tie in clump of white Bucktail on top of shank, aligning tips using fibers of equal length, and having tips extending 2 1/2 hook lengths past shank.

Step 5: Trim butt ends of Bucktail close to tie in.

Step 6: Lay Bucktail over center of dumbbell eyes. Wrap thread behind eyes and over Bucktail to the end of shank, securing it on top of hook.

Step 7: Return thread to directly in front of dumbbell eyes and turn hook point side up for remaining steps.

 

Step 8: Tie in desired color of crystal flash on the bottom of the hook (opposite of white Bucktail) directly in front of eyes, having ends even with tips of Bucktail (here we tie in two colors of flash).

 

Step 9: Tie in darker, complementary colored Bucktail on bottom of shank atop crystal flash, and directly in front of eyes, making sure length is slightly longer than flash and white Bucktail (again, here we tie in two shades of Bucktail)

Step 10: Trim ends of Bucktail to create tapered head.

Step 11: Create desired head by wrapping thread over trimmed butt-ends of Bucktail, covering the area thoroughly.

Step 12: Whip finish on head. Cement or epoxy all exposed thread on head and thread on hook shank over preliminary white Bucktail.

Step 13: Double haul in front of Striper's face.

(End product)

All photographs by Kevney Moses

Tied by Jimmy Armijo