2013 Swap #3 : Clouser Style Flys

[theboz]

Thanks kayo ! YOUR IN!

---------- Post added at 10:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:04 PM ----------

Come on guys need 2 more swappers! Gonna be a good one!

[Rip Tide]

15 completed and ready to go.

[mudbug]

Originally Posted by Rip Tide

15 completed and ready to go.

[Rip Tide]

If I don't do it while it's "fresh", it will never get done.
.... besides, what else was I going to do ? Work on the taxes ??

Originally Posted by mudbug

[kayo]

LOL, I don't even know what a Clouser is.

[mcnerney]

Originally Posted by kayo

LOL, I don't even know what a Clouser is.

No worries, I'm not far behind, just remember YouTube is your friend!

[Rip Tide]

One thing about Clousers that I've never seen written down is that when using lead (and only lead) eyes, you cannot tie them in as tightly as you might want to.
With alloy eyes they need to be as snug as possible in order to keep them from spinning on the hook shank. (I even resort to roughing up the finish on the shank with an emery board to better hold the thread)
But with the lead eyes, if you tie them in too tightly, they will break.

(I got this tip from tying one on one with Dan Blanton and not from some youtube video which some of the younger members here seem to believe is all you need )

[FrankB2]

Rip,
Are you talking about the eye breaking while fighting a fish? I don't go after fish as large as the stripers you catch, and I've never had a lead eye break. I'm not cinching down each wrap as though I were trying to test the limits of my thread, however. Bob Clouser and Lefty put a heavy coating of epoxy around the lead eyes (I saw that on Youtube ). I don't bother with that, as
I lose so many to snags while fishing for smallmouth. I'm also too lazy....

To try to prevent spinning eyes, I lay down a base of thread on the hook, and hit it with some CA adhesive. If I happen to have thin CA on hand, I'll tie the eyes in with several wraps, and then hit it with CA. The Tiemco stinger hooks I use stay sharp for a LONG time, so I will sometimes get a loose eye on a Clouser that's seen use for a few days. That usually means I've caught a few good smallmouth with it, so I'm okay with that.

[Rip Tide]

Originally Posted by FrankB2

Rip,
Are you talking about the eye breaking while fighting a fish? I don't go after fish as large as the stripers you catch, and I've never had a lead eye break.

It could happen at at any time, but usually when the fly come in hard contact with something....... even when smacking the water.
It's happened to me so many times, at least it did before Blanton mentioned it to me.

[FrankB2]

Do you epoxy the eyes like Clouser? I really don't feel like mixing epoxy, and playing around with it while it dries. I've seen people use the UV stuff to build up the stick-on eyes, and I guess it would work with Clousers. That's too much effort for me as well.