If you have one fly in your saltwater armoury it has to be the 'Clouser Minnow'. With so many variations over the years I reckon it has ceased to be a pattern and is now a style of fly. Tie it long, tie it short, bulky or sparse (or super sparse), synthetic or natural this has to be the most successful salty pattern worldwide. Choose whatever colour combinations that suit your situation, but no-one should be without one in chartruese & white. Here's my interpretation of this classic.
Hook: Standard saltwater O'Shaunessy.
Thread: Clear mono.
Eyes: Lead dumbells.
Belly: Bucktail.
Flash: Pearl crystal flash.
Wing: Bucktail.
Step 1: Tie a small bump of thread about 1/3rd down the shank.
Step 2: Attach dumbells with figure of 8 wraps. Make a few turns of thread between eyes and shank to tighten down and apply a good dollop of superglue around eyes.
Step 3:Tie in belly hair in front of eyes.
Step 4:Take thread behind the eyes and tie down belly along the shank with open turns. Don't over-tighten to avoid flaring hair too much.
Step 5: Invert hook and tie in 6 - 8 strands of flash. Don't overdo the flash as it's easy to overpower the fly with too much.
Step 6: Tie in wing in front of eyes only. Make sure wing is slightly bulkier than belly as this will assist the fly to ride hook point up. Whip finish and varnish. Work varnish in around the eyes to help durability.
The finished fly:
The Essential Saltwater Fly.
but what is tutti fruitti Jamie.
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