clouser minnow Archives - Current Works Guide Service

Autumn like weather has made for some comfortable steelhead fishing the past month. But while the lack of rain made it comfortable, we sure could use some to bring in more fish as the steelhead in the Manistee system are acting coy. Smaller rivers like the Betsie and others in northwest Michigan are in dire need of some precipitation to bring in some fish – it’s been slim-pickings this fall on the smaller tributaries for steelhead.

Water temps on the Manistee are still in the mid to upper 40’s which is warmer than normal for this time of year. With the lack of rain the water clarity almost too clear but the snow and rain should help change that. Lighter line is making the difference between hooking up and not and with the steelhead a bit larger than average this fall there’s a smaller margin for error; lighter line can be a curse as they are feisty this fall and at times, they just don’t play nice at all.

Late fall with warmer water temps are ideal for the steelhead angler looking to swing a fly on a two-handed rod and remains good for those bouncing the bottom with nymph and egg combos. As fish start to move towards wood, it can be a good time to seek the bubble lines around wood and other structure. The bite has transitioned from a total egg bite with more interest in nymphs – specifically hex nymphs and steelhead/ice buggers.

Trout anglers are finding the browns below Tippy Dam looking to fill the void of eggs now that the salmon are gone. Streamer fishing can be good covering mixed water with mid-sized streamers including natural Clouser Minnows, natural sculpin and goby patterns and olive and copper streamers – as always, mix it up. This can be a good time of the year to pursue both trout and steelhead in the same day.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Warmer than normal water and air temps will keep us chasing chrome fish for a while yet.
Late Fall Trout – After gorging on salmon eggs, streamer fishing below Tippy Dam can be outstanding.
Gift Certificates – With the holidays upon us, ask for or give the gift of a guided fishing trip – Half or Full-Days.

brown trout, clouser minnow, fly fishing gift certificates, late fall streamer fishing, steelhead, swinging streamers for steelhead, tippy dam

Flashtail Clouser

Most anglers are familiar with the Clouser Minnow — a highly effective fly created by smallmouth bass angler and guru Bob Clouser. With its lead eyes and streamlined bucktail construction, the fly acts similar to a bucktail jig and can effectively be fished in a variety of colors for a variety of species, making it one of the most versatile patterns for both fresh and saltwater fish.

The Flashtail Clouser was influenced by the original Clouser Minnow pattern and Dan Blanton’s rendition — the Flashtail Deep Minnow. Notable differences in this pattern include a tail of reflective Flashabou, a body of synthetic dubbing to add some bulk and transparency, and a belly and wing made from soft, natural materials that have more movement in the water. The result is more durable than bucktail.

Smallmouth Bass caught on a Flashtail Clouser

You can fish the Flashtail Clouser in both rivers and lakes with both floating lines and sink-tips. I suggest tying these flies using various sized eyes from bead-chain to a few different sizes of painted dumbbell to allow fishing various depths and current flows.

With floating lines, use leaders around 9 feet in length to allow the fly to sink. When stripped, the jig-style hook and a floating line create a fleeing “hop” while moving forward, imitating a spooked and fleeing baitfish — something predatory fish often key-in on.

Fish this pattern with varying speeds and pauses on sink-tip lines when you need to get the fly deeper and/or in swift moving currents.

Flashtail Clouser – Wet

Easy to tie, highly effective and very versatile, tie this pattern in sizes that range from a few inches up to 8 inches in length. You can change the color profile to match any particular baitfish that is prevalent to your favorite fishery or even in attractor color schemes.

Trout • Pike • Salmon • Smallmouth Bass • Bluegill • Largemouth Bass • Walleye • Steelhead

Flashtail Clouser Minnow Recipe

Hook: U555 Jig 6, or TFS 5440 1/0 – 6
Thread: Gray Uni 6/0
Tail: 50/50 mix of Mirage Opal/silver and Flashabou Pearl
Body: Hareline Polar Dub – White
Eyes: S.S. Bead Chain or painted dumbbell – sized accordingly
Belly: Sheep Hair/Sculpin Wool – White
Wing: Silver Fox Tail

Step 1. After wrapping a base layer of thread from behind the angled hook shank to above
the hook barb, tie eyes using figure-8 wraps, leaving room to tie in the belly and wing.
Some people prefer to add a drop of Zap-A-Gap to the wraps at this point (optional).

Step 2. Tie in the tail material so it extends backwards twice the length of the hook shank.

Step 3. Very loosely dub clumps of Polar Dub from the tail tie in area to just
behind the eyes. Pick out with scissor point or bodkin.

Step 4. Tie in a sparse clump of sheep hair behind the eyes so the tips extend halfway down the tail.
After secure, wind your thread between the eye and hook eye. Pull sheep hair over the eyes and tie down.

Step 5. On the opposite side of the white belly hair, tie in a clump of Silver Fox tail for
a wing that is slightly longer than the belly. Trim, tie off and apply two coats of head cement.

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blantons flashtail, clouser minnow, fly tying, pattern, recipe, smallmouth bass fly

Posts tagged "clouser minnow"

Late November Trout and Steelhead Fishing Report

Flashtail Clouser Minnow

Flashtail Clouser Minnow Recipe

Ted Kraimer • Current Works, LLC • PO Box 333 • Traverse City, Michigan 49685 • (231) 883-8156