Bodkin / Patterns

Clouser (Striper)

Baitfish · Striped Bass · Bluefish · False Albacore · Intermediate · 1 version

Note: This recipe has not been verified against a documented source, or disagrees with one. Treat the materials and steps as unconfirmed.

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Saltwater hook, 1/0-3/0
  • Thread White 3/0

Materials

  • Eyes Lead dumbbell eyes, painted (1 pair)
  • Belly White bucktail (sparse)
  • Flash Krystal Flash (8-10 strands)
  • Back Chartreuse bucktail (sparse)

How to tie it

  1. Lay a thread base and tie in heavy painted dumbbell eyes about one-third of the shank back from the hook eye. Figure-8 wraps, then circular wraps under the eyes to lock them, then a drop of super glue. If the eyes can twist, they will.
  2. Tie in a sparse clump of white bucktail in front of the eyes, then bind it down behind the eyes so it lays along the shank. This becomes the belly.
  3. Flip the hook in the vise. The fly rides point-up from here.
  4. Tie in 8-10 strands of Krystal Flash on what is now the top.
  5. Tie in a sparse clump of chartreuse bucktail over the flash. The back. Sparse means sparse: Bob Clouser's originals look almost unfinished dry, and that translucency is the point.
  6. Build a neat tapered head, whip finish, cement generously.

Tying videos

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