Will's Fishing Blog

We're into March here in on the Ozark Plateau which means that I, like most of you, am super pumped to join the hordes that descend on the White River near Twin Bridges outside of Goshen and the War Eagle below the mill for some of the easiest and most fun fishing of the year during the white bass spawning run. This is what I tie by the dozens to use and give away during the run. All the materials can be found at McClellan's Fly shop in Fayetteville, the best darned fly shop in Arkansas. And not just because they let me get baked in the back room (kidding!).

Start with a Mustad 3407DT, size 6 hook. I used to tie all my Clousers on the the same long-shanked hook I use for most of my other streamers, mostly out of cheapness, but I've found that I really do prefer a short-shanked hook. I think it allows the body to move more, there's less space to be filled by the red throat, and I really do miss less fish because it puts the hook point closer to the head where fish attack. Use 6/0 thread the same color as the top-most color of the fly. Add eyes to the top of the hook shank. You can use the painted lead ones, but I've found that most of the paint chips off as soon as it hits a rock, so I use the nickel ones. Also, I use the extra small eyes. I fish these on a sink-tip line anyway, and I don't want them to sink like a rock to the bottom. I view the weighted eyes mostly as a positioning mechanism. They keep the fly upright. Tie them between two bumps of thread about 2/3 of the shank away from the eye. Add Zap-A-Gap, or they'll spin, no matter how many wraps of thread you use.

Add strands of white Flash-N-Slinky to the top of the hook, starting as close to the eye of the hook as you can get. It's hard to describe how much to use, and it's kind of a personal preference anyway. Tie a few, and you'll get a feel for it. Pull your thread past the eyes and continue lashing down until the bend of the hook.

Make a dubbing loop and add red Prism II dubbing. Or whatever your favorite flashy dubbing is. Twist, and wrap to the eyes.

Turn the hook over (rotary vice!), and add whatever stands of flash you prefer behind the eyes. I like two strands of red Flashabou, and two strands of medium silver Holo Tinsel, one on each side of the fly.

On the "bottom" of the hook, add strands of light blue Flash-N-Slinky. I like blue for the white bass, but of course you can use whatever color(s) you want. I also tie it in fire tiger.

Make a nice, clean, tapered head and whip-finish. Notice how the head does NOT extend back to the eyes. Trim the body. This is another personal preference, and I have a spot on my vice I like to use for reference. Once again, tie a few and you'll know what you like. Take the hook out of you vice and bar the back with a black Prismacolor marker. I know, I know, Prismacolors are expensive, but don't cheap out and use a Sharpie. You only have to buy whatever Prismacolors you need once, they last longer, and it gives you something to look at when your significant other wants to go to Hobby Lobby.

Add two coats of Gloss Coat Head Cement, or epoxy if you're feeling ambitious. And there you have it! Fill you box, try to find a place to park at Twin Bridges, and enjoy the spring.