Barry Ord Clarke
 

Clouser Deep Minnow

Step by Step

 

This fly pattern was developed by the American fly-tyer Bob Clouser, initially for fishing smallmouth bass in his home waters of pennsylvania, but has since been recognised as an all round fly that has taken just about everything from pike to marlin. Lefty Kreh, one of the first users oof this pattern, has caught over 70 different species of fish with it. The Clouser Minnow was made to imitate an injured or fleeing bait fish. The idea is that a bait fish will not stop swimming when being chased by a predator, so the weighted eyes on the fly  enable the pattern to remain mobile by sinking quickly in between retrieves, keeping the fly on the move.

 

One of the main advantages to this pattern is that it is quick and easy to tie and there are only a few basic materials needed. It can also be tied in just about any size from 5 cm for smaller fish and up to 30 cm and over for big salt water species such as marlin. In my home waters it has proven a killing pattern for cod and saith taking fish on just about every trip.  Generally speaking I fish the Clouser minnow on a Hi-D line, 7.5 kg tippet, USD with a weed guard.  Fished deep with a medium speed strip retrieve, but the fly is often taken by cod on the drop. The first couple of casts are normally used to judge the depth and bottom type if fishing a new area.  Using the old reservoir count-down method you can determine when to begin your retrieve, keeping in mind that a Hi-D line is always sinking no matter how fast you retrieve so this also has to be considered.  Although a good size fish can give a good fight on a fly rod the landing of the cod can prove to be the most challenging part of the fishing.  After the initial fight and head shaking with a cod,  its rather like pulling in a plastic carrier bag full of water.  Because of this dead weight factor its advisable to have a good strong, long handled landing net to hand. If you are fishing from a pier or high rocks a drop net is even better.