Thursday's Fly - The Clouser Minnow

I can't have a blog titled WhiteClouser and then highlight a different fly for my first fly spotlight.  

A Clouser Deep Minnow, photo by Mike Cline

The Clouser Deep Minnow was first tied by Bob Clouser in 1987, and formally named by Lefty Kreh.  If that doesn't count as fly fishing royalty, I don't know what does.  Those two guys are responsible for putting more fish in the boat than an army of guides.


This fly can catch anything.  Lefty Kreh reported catching 63 species on this pattern in one of his books. If it swims and eats then there is a chance that a fish will inhale the Clouser Minnow.  I say inhale because strikes are rather aggressive.  Strip, strip, and hold on tight.

There are plenty of minnow imitations out there, but this one has a distinct few advantages. It casts well and sheds water well.  It is easy to modify to imitate your local baitfish or crayfish. And the best part, it rides hook point up.  Fewer snags for you and more positive hook ups for the fish. It is an easy tie, and I never feel worried chucking one into a woodpile or nasty structure.

This fly can be tied in a variety of sizes from 1/0 to 10 and even 12.  The traditional fly was crafted from bucktail and krystal flash. White belly with a tan wing and gold krystal flash or grey wing with silver krystal flash.

The traditional fly has lead to numerous versions, and a variety of configurations using fox, such as the Foxee Clouser, and some built entirely of synthetics.   My favorite crappie fly is tied on a size 12 nymph hook, white and chartreuse.  There are a lot of flies out there that owe their lineage to the Clouser Deep Minnow, including lot's of bonefish and other saltwater flies.

This came off of my vise last year and fooled couple of smallmouth this past summer.

A WhiteClouser original, a Clouser Deep Minnow style fly.

 Here is the man himself, Bob Clouser demonstrating the tying of a Clouser Deep Minnow.

I can't wait for smallmouth season. I'll have a box full of Clousers by June.