Pete's Pink & Chartreuse Simi Seal Clouser - Step By Step Fly Tying Tutorial
Bob Clouser’s minnow pattern is undoubtedly one of the most productive flies ever tied. This is simply one variation of which there are no end. By adding a small impression of an underbelly using a dubbing loop with Simi Seal you can quickly add profile or simply change up colors to match your destination. In saltwater tarpon, snook, permit, bonefish and so many other species will nail this fly. In freshwater large trout, bass, pike, steelhead and salmon will gladly partake.
Tied, Written, & Photographed by Pete Rosenau (@blueriverflies)
All Materials Used:
Hook: Gamakatsu SL12S - Size #2
Eyes: Hareline Brass Dumbbell Eyes - Fluorescent Yellow Chartreuse - Large
Thread: UNI 6/0 Waxed Thread - Pink
+ John Rohmer's Arizona Simi Seal Dubbing - Chartreuse
+ John Rohmer's Arizona Simi Seal Dubbing - Pink
+ Hareline Krystal Flash - Chartreuse
+ Hareline Krystal Flash - UV Pink
+ Nature’s Spirit Select Large Bucktail - Fluorescent Hot Pink
+ Nature's Spirit Select Large Bucktail - Fluorescent Lime
***For All Materials Used - Click Here***
Fly Tying Step By Step Tutorial:
Step 1
Tie in your dumbbell eyes. Leave roughly 1/8 inch behind the hook eye. Tying the eyes on the top side of the shank will allow the hook to ride point up. Cover with your cement and allow to dry. It’s helpful to further your consistency and overall skills if you tie up 6 or 12 at a time. You’ll become much better at judging pinches of bucktail and dubbing amounts for sure.
Step 2
Tie in a small amount of Fl. Lime bucktail at a point parallel to the hook barb. After trimming and tying down the butts make a thread loop at the tie in spot for the tail. Make a loop roughly 5 inches to leave yourself a bit of extra tie off space.
Step 3
Align some of the Simi Seal and thinly pull enough to make roughly 2 inches height wise of both colors. 4 inches total Simi Seal.
Step 4
Carefully place your dubbing into the loop. As with most loops error on the thin side with your materials. The reason behind this version of the Clouser was to offer the slightest impression of a belly. A small amount of dubbing goes a long way.
Step 5
Completely spin up your loop with your spinning tool. Don’t worry too much about picking out the fibers for this application. Just make sure to brush thoroughly after wrapping the loop up the shank.
Step 6
Wrap you loop carefully in touching wraps and tie off just behind the eyes. After trimming and securing the tag of your loop brush out your Simi Seal and coax the fibers back toward the tail of the fly. Dipping your fingertips in water will help train the fibers as well as remove loose dubbing fibers.
Step 7
Add flash to the top of the fly in front of the eyes. The amount of flash is up to you. On this fly I’m veiling 5 strands of Krystal Flash. 3 strands of UV Pink and 2 strands of Fl. Chartreuse. Try to keep your thread wraps strong and efficient. We don’t want much bulk knowing the bucktail still awaits.
Step 8
Tie on a small amount of Fl. Pink bucktail. The amount should be roughly twice the thickness of what you used for the tail. Make sure to split the hairs onto either side of the hook point as evenly as possible before really cranking down on the thread. After it’s positioned properly trim the butts closely and wrap a neat thread head. Seal with the cement or resin of your choice.
Step 9
After your head cement has dried dip your Simi Clouser in water to help all the fibers and bucktail get used to their future underwater positions. Such a simple take on a classic fly, but sometimes having something slightly different is all it takes.
For Any Questions Please Email: pete@spawnflyfish.com
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