Video: How to Tie the Half and Half

Surely the two most famous saltwater flies are Lefty Kreh’s Deceiver and Bob Clouser’s Clouser Deep Minnow. Separately, these baitfish imitations have caught countless species–in both fresh and salt water–over the past few decades. So why not combine the two to create a third pattern that offers the best features of each? Hence, the Half and Half, which offers the profile of the Deceiver and the fast sink rate and jigging action of the Clouser Minnow. This fly will catch any fish that eats other fish, from striped bass and bluefish to bass and trout.

In this week’s excellent video, Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions shows you exactly how to tie the Half and Half so the pattern comes out with the same proportions every time. I dig the way he uses an extra layer of bucktail to create a base that makes everything after it easier. As always, watch these videos in 4K for maximum effect.

          Half and Half
          Hook: Standard saltwater hook, size 2/0.
          Thread: White, 6/0 or 140 denier.
          Eyes/Weight: Painted dumbbell eyes, 1/4-inch.
          Underbody: White bucktail.
          Tails: 4 dark-olive saddle hackes.
          Adhesive #1: UV-cure resin.
          Flash: Gold Krystal Flash.
          Belly: White bucktail.
          Collar: Bright red dubbing.
          Adhesive #2: UV-cure resin.
          Back: Olive bucktail.
          Head: Tying thread.
          Adhesive #3: UV-cure resin.
          Note: Tie this pattern in a wide variety of color combinations.

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