Fly Of The Month

November 2000
South African Clouser

By John Timmermann

A few years ago, a young man from South Africa by the name of Paul van Reenan introduced some new materials to the tying scene. This variation of the highly successful deep minnow utilizes those materials. I addition t their appeal color wise and the ability to blend colors when brushed, the inherent suppleness adds the needed motion to attract the wary fish. The addition of softex to the fly helps in minimizing fouling and helps hold the profile you are trying to achieve. Changing color combinations, varying thickness and length, and adding flash can create a variety of bait imitations. Dark colors are available for use in low light conditions. The following variation is as I originally tied it, and has caught a wide range of fish.

 

Materials


Hook #1 stainless
Thread clear mono thread
Eyes 3/32 barbell
Body
 White polafibre
Chartreuse polafibre
White Fluorofibre
Pink Fluorofibre
Chartreuse fluorofibre
Adhesive Softex

 

Tying Instructions

1 Run a base of mono thread from behind hook eye to the bend of the hook then back about 2/3 of the shank toward the eye.
2 Tie in barbell eyes to bottom of hook shank.
3 Select a pencil lean thick hank of white polafibre about twice the length at the hook shank. Place on the bottom of the hook starting just behind the hook eye. Secure first aft of the eyes and then forward of the eye.
4 Select the same amount and length of white polafibre and secure on the top of the hook directly behind the hook eye. Part the fibers equally around the hook at the bend.
5 Tie in approx. 20 fibers of white fluorofibre on top of this. Divide equally around hook at the bend.
6 Tie in approx. 20 fibers of pink fluorofibre on top of this. Divide equally around hook at the bend
7 Tie in approx. 20 fibers of chartreuse fluorofibre on top of this. Divide equally around hook at the bend.
8 On top of this, tie in a pencil lead thick hank of chartreuse polafibre; divide equally around hook at bend and whip finish.
9 Apply softex to material from behind hook eye to about 1/2" past the hook bend. At this point you may wish to shape the body for a narrow or fuller profile and width. Allow to cure.