Fly of the Week 1/28/2013: Clouser

Each week I am going to bring you a new fly based on one of the following categories: streamers, nymphs, midge, dry, saltwater (primarily Northeast), freshwater bass/crappie, egg (steelhead/salmon), spey, terrestrials, and attractor. If you want to see a fly tied, shoot me a message and I can make it a fly of the week and give you a shout out.

Clouser: named after creator Bob Clouser

• Hook: Standard saltwater hook, sizes 2-2/0
• Thread: 6/0 White with 6/0 orange/red to finish nose (black if you are using black or purple buck tail)
• Belly: White Buck Tail
• Body Flash: Crystal flash to match back or of your choice
• Back: Blue, Tan, Brown, Olive Chartreuse, Yellow, or Pink

Step 1: Take your thread and make a little base behind the eye of the hook. Then take the dumbbell eyes, figure-8 wrap around the eyes, wrap in front/back, and around the top of the hook but below the eyes to secure.

Step 2: Take some crystal flash and tie in before the eyes and after (take a little head cement and dab over the eyes). Move thread back to in front of the eyes and then get out your buck tail. Take white buck tail, leave about an inch for tail, and tie the buck tail in, in front of the eyes (do not wrap in tight at first). Once it is secure in front of the eye, tie in behind (again, do not wrap tight at first). Make sure the fibers do not fan out around hook. To make sure they do not fan out, pull up on fibers after tied in.

Step 3: Take the color buck tail you are going to use for the back and tie in under the eyes. You are only going to tie in the back color in the nose then whip finish. After it is tied in take your orange or red thread and wrap the nose then whip finish.

Step 4: Take some head cement or epoxy (I like epoxy) and touch up the nose and eyes. This will really keep this fly rock solid. BAMMMM, this Clouser is ready to fish.

It is an easy fly to tie. Some people will tie in the white buck tail and then wrap thread down the hook shank. I do that sometimes, but I think it is good to switch up how you tie your patterns. 

Feel free to request a fly for me to tie. I love learning new flies and tying flies in general.

Now is the time to stock up those fly boxes!

-Fly Fiend