Clouser Minnow

Bob Clouser, 1987. Effective for bass, trout, and saltwater species.

Printed on the Ace of diamonds

The Clouser Minnow is built around one mechanical idea: put heavy dumbbell eyes on top of the hook shank, and the fly will flip over and ride point-up. That single decision does two things. It makes the fly almost snag-proof over rock and weed, and it gives it a pronounced jigging action on the retrieve — rising and diving with every strip rather than swimming flat.

That darting, wounded motion is what predatory fish respond to. A healthy baitfish swims steadily; an injured one falls and recovers, falls and recovers. The Clouser does the latter automatically, without the angler having to do anything clever.

Bob Clouser designed it for Susquehanna smallmouth, but it has since been used to catch a genuinely absurd range of species in fresh and salt water. Chartreuse over white is the classic, and remains the first choice almost everywhere; olive over white is the better trout color on most rivers.

What does a Clouser Minnow imitate?

Baitfish and minnows.

How do you fish a Clouser Minnow?

Cast across and strip back in sharp pulls with pauses. The pause is where the take usually comes — the fly is dropping and looks wounded. Vary strip length and speed until you find the pattern.

When should you fish a Clouser Minnow?

Spring through autumn wherever fish are eating baitfish. Prime time is any period of low light or high aggression.

What are the quick tips for fishing it?

• The take almost always comes on the pause. Do not strip continuously.
• Chartreuse/white for bass and salt, olive/white for trout.
• It rides hook-up — fish it confidently over rock and structure.

How is a Clouser Minnow tied?

• Hook: standard streamer, #1/0-#8
• Eyes: lead or brass dumbbell, tied on top of the shank
• Belly: white bucktail
• Flash: Krystal Flash
• Wing: chartreuse or olive bucktail

Dressings vary by tier and region. Treat this as the common recipe, not the only one.