Clouser Deep Minnow

The Clouser Deep Minnow is an artificial fly commonly categorized as a streamer and is fished under the water surface. It is a popular and widely used pattern for both freshwater and saltwater game fish and is generally listed as one of the top patterns to have in any fly box, especially for bass and saltwater flats fishing.[2]

Clouser Deep Minnow
Artificial fly
#2 Brown, Gold and White Clouser Deep Minnow
TypeStreamer
ImitatesBaitfish
History
CreatorBob Clouser
Created1987
Materials
Typical sizes1/0 – 10
Typical hooksTMC 811S
Thread6/0 nylon matching underwing colors
TailNone
BodyNone
WingBucktail, white underwing and brown, gray, chartreuse overwing with flash
HeadThread color
BeadDumb bell eyes painted red or chartreuse
Uses
Primary useFresh and saltwater baitfish imitation for multiple species
Reference(s)
Pattern referencesClouser's Flies (2006), Bob Clouser[1]

Origin

The original Clouser Deep Minnow evolved from traditional bucktail streamers and was created in 1987 by Bob Clouser, a Pennsylvania fly shop owner and guide. The original patterns were intended for smallmouth bass on the Susquehanna River. The name Clouser Deep Minnow was coined by Lefty Kreh, a noted Fly Fishing writer in a 1989 article in Fly Fisherman. Today, the Clouser Deep Minnow is widely used for many species of both fresh and saltwater game fish. Lefty Kreh claims to have caught over 87 species of game fish on Clouser Deep Minnow flies.[3]

I believe that this pattern is the most important and effective underwater fly developed in the past 20 years. During the past three years I have been able to catch 63 species of fish in fresh and saltwaters around the world with this pattern!

— Lefty Kreh 1994 in The Professionals' Favorite Flies[4]

Imitates

The Clouser Deep Minnow is an imitation of a baitfish, although there are many variations intended to imitate very specific baitfish in different fresh and saltwater situations.

Materials

The original Clouser Deep Minnow pattern was tied with bucktail and krystal flash. However today, Clouser Deep Minnows are tied in a wide variety of color combinations and material combinations. The widespread availability of synthetic hair-like materials today, make the creation of an almost infinite number of Clouser Deep Minnow variations possible. The originals were tied on a number 2 saltwater hook with either a white bucktail belly, gold krystal flash and natural brown bucktail wing or white belly, silver krystal flash and gray dyed bucktail.

Variations and sizes

Clouser Deep Minnow flies are typically tied on number 1/0 to 10 short to long hooks, with lead or tungsten dumbbell eyes.

References

Clouser, Bob (2006). Clouser's Flies. Mechanicsburg, Pa.: Stackpole Books. ISBN 0-8117-0148-4.

Clouser, Bob (2007). Fly-Fishing For Smallmouth in Rivers and Streams. Mechanicsburg, Pa.: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-0173-0.

Notes
  1. Clouser, Bob (2006). "The Original Clouser Deep Minnow". Clouser's Flies. Mechanicsburg, Pa.: Stackpole Books. pp. 31–39. ISBN 0-8117-0148-4.
  2. Beck, Barry; beck, Cathy (1999). Fly-Fishing The Flats. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. pp. 37–41. ISBN 0-8117-2764-5.
  3. Clouser, Bob (2006). Clouser's Flies. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. pp. 30–31. ISBN 0-8117-0148-4.
  4. Kreh, Lefty (1994). The Professionals' Favorite Flies Vol II. Birmingham, Alabama: Oddessy Editions. p. 45.
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