How to Tie a Clouser Fly

The Clouser minnow is one of the most used flies in the world. Bob Clouser, the inventor, has claimed over 90 species on the chartreuse and white pattern featured. The Clouser Minnow remains a popular choice for anglers and fly-tyers due to it's effectiveness and tying simplicity. The Clouser can be dressed in many different colors and combinations; red/white, black/gray, blue/white, and so on. The angler’s local baitfish are great clues to determine the colors one should choose to tie their Clouser. Good Luck and Tight Lines.

Things You'll Need

  • Vise
  • Bobbin
  • Bodkin
  • Threader
  • Scissors
  • 2/0 down to a 8 size hook (anglers discretion)
  • Weight (lead eyes, lead thread)
  • Bucktail (angler's choice)
  • Fly head cement
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Choose your weighting material. Some tyers like to use a thin thread of lead for weight; however, the most effective means are barbell eyes; they add a little more life like quality to the fly. The barbell eyes also ensure the hook rides up and stays out of the grass. Tie the eyes with a figure-eight twist firmly where the eyes will not rotate around the hook.

    • 2

      Choose your bucktail underbody color. Cut off the desired length of the fly. Make sure to pull the under hairs out of the body material by pinching the bucktail together and slightly pulling the hairs from the end you cut from the tail. Tie the material forward of the eyes and work backwards. Once you get behind the eyes, take seven to nine light turns. If you tie down too tight, the bucktail will flare and look unnatural.Work the thread forward and finish back on the head.

    • 3

      Tie the upper wing on the hook side of the fly. The fly will ride hook-side up with your barbell eyes. Only work forward of the barbell eyes and make sure to make no turns behind the eyes.

    • 4

      Build the head of the fly up with additional turns of the thread. If you use red thread, you can create a gill look for the fly.

    • 5

      Once the head is built up where the angler feels comfortable, finish the head with a whip knot and coat with fly head cement.