The Clouser Minnow is incredibly effective in both salt- and fresh water.
Although the Clouser Minnow (originally called the Clouser Deep Minnow) is famous for being one of the more prolific saltwater flies of all time, it was first tied by Pennsylvanian Bob Clouser to catch smallmouth bass on the Susquehanna River. The pattern was popularized in a 1989 Fly Fisherman article by Lefty Kreh, who later claimed to have caught 63 freshwater and saltwater species on the fly. (That was 20 years ago, so the number has surely grown.)
In this great video from Tightline Productions,Tim Flagler walks us through the tying sequence to create an attractive, well-proportioned Clouser. Although it seems like a pretty simple pattern, you need to know a few thread tricks to make everything work out right. The way that Tim ties in each bunch of bucktail will change the way you use the material on all your streamers.
Clouser Minnow
Hook: Mustad 34007, size 2/0.
Thread: White, 140-denier or 6/0.
Eyes/Weight: Nontoxic painted dumbbells, large.
Adhesive: Sally Hansen Hard as Nails.
Belly: Natural white bucktail, two hook lengths.
Flash: Gold Krystal Flash, 3 or 4 strands.
Back: Olive bucktail, two hook lengths.
Head: Tying thread.
Adhesive: Sally Hansen Hard as Nails, 2 coats.
This is the one I have been waiting for! No more flare! (Well… after some practice.)
Great video. I’m a fairly accomplished fly tier, but I learned several good tricks from this video that will make my flies better and more efficiently tied.
I tie my own version of this fly ,for river trout in northern Arkansas and as someone else has said, I gained a few pointers from the video. I love streamers and I will continue to tie them. Good luck and good fishing!