Here’s another “guide-fly” lesson from Alvin Dedeaux of All Water Guides. Guide’s don’t want to use flies that are complicated or take a long time to tie because a client may lose a bunch of flies on any giver trip. The Half and Half gets its name from the fact that it’s half a Clouser Minnow, half a Lefty’s Deceiver. Alvin uses the Half and Half to chase bass in the Texas Hill Country and redfish on the Gulf coast. His version is about as quick-and-dirty as you can get.
If you want to tie the more complicated original version of this venerable pattern, check out the video from Tightline Productions here.
Simple Half and Half
Hook: Bass bug hook (here a Gamakatsu B10S), size 1.
Thread: White, 3/0.
Eyes: Red dumbbell eyes, size to match hook.
Tails: 2 white saddle hackle feathers.
Body: Flash material or dubbing of your choice.
Belly: White bucktail.
Wing: Olive bucktail.
Adhesive: UV-cure resin.
Note: Tie this pattern in colors and combinations to match the naturals or as an attractor.
And here I thought I would have nothing to do today!! Thanks Alvin.
I’m really not seeing much of a deceiver in this pattern. Just looks like a Clouser Minnow with a feather to emphasize the tail. OK – if that’s what a Half & Half is, but I really wonder how much better the fly performs with the added feathers.
Quick and dirty! Love it. You can make a half and half as complicated as you like, but easy still catches fish. I want to fish with Alvin!