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Fly Tying the Clouser Minnow

Charlie Craven's step-by-step slide show and video about fly tying the famous Clouser Minnow.

Fly Tying the Clouser Minnow

Clouser Minnow Recipe

  • HOOK: TMC 9395 #2-12
  • THREAD: 3/0 Monocord
  • EYES: Painted Lead or Brass Eyes, sized to hook
  • BELLY: White Bucktail
  • FLASH: Krystal Flash
  • BACK: Chartreuse Bucktail

Clouser Minnow Fly-Tying Step-by-Steps

Tying The Clouser Minnow

Tying The Clouser Minnow Step 1 of 10

Start the thread right behind the eye and wrap back to the mid-point on the shank. Return the thread to the seventy-five percent point.

Tying The Clouser Minnow Step 2 of 10

Tie in a pair of lead eyes with figure eight wraps about one fourth of a shank length back from the eye.

Tying The Clouser Minnow Step 3 of 10

Cut a sparse bunch of white bucktail from the tail and measure it so it is about two shank lengths long.

Tying The Clouser Minnow Step 4 of 10

Bind the bucktail down on the top of the shank behind the eyes with a wide band of tight thread wraps.

Tying The Clouser Minnow Step 5 of 10

Fold the butt ends of the bucktail down in front of the yes and bind them down here as well.

Tying The Clouser Minnow Step 6 of 10

Cut the remaining butt ends of the bucktail at an angle back toward the eyes. Wrap the thread over the tapered butts to smooth the surface a bit.

Tying The Clouser Minnow Step 7 of 10

Invert the hook in the vise.

Tying The Clouser Minnow Step 8 of 10

Tie in about a half dozen strands of flash in front of the eyes. The flash should reach just past the ends of the bucktail.

Tying The Clouser Minnow Step 9 of 10

Cut another sparse clump of chartreuse bucktail and tie it in in front of the eyes with several tight turns of thread. The tips of the chartreuse bucktail should meet the tips of the white bucktail.

Tying The Clouser Minnow Step 10 of 10

Clip the butt ends of the bucktail at an angle and wrap over them to form a smooth head. Whip finish and clip the thread. Apply a coat of head cement to the thread wraps.

Finished Clouser Minnow

Clouser Minnow Fly-Tying Video

 

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