Paul's December 2021 Bonus Fly of the Month

 Tutti Frutti 

 (a.k.a. The Electric Chicken)

 Hook:  Mustad 34077 Size #1 or similar hook. 

Thread:  White flat waxed nylon.  Head is finished with Pink flat waxed nylon.

Eyes:  4.8mm (3/16) Dumbbell (a.k.a. ‘real eyes’).

Tail/Bottom Wing:  Chartreuse Buck Tail.

Belly:  Pearl Bill’s Body Braid or Diamond Braid.

Wing:  White Bucktail, over which are strands of Pearl ‘Lateral Scale’, over which is Pink Bucktail. 

We’ve all fished Clouser Minnows.  They are one of the most effective flies out there.  What really makes or distinguishes this Clouser pattern is the color.  At times this has been a magic fly for me, especially on Cape Cod.  It’s a combination of colors that Stripers can see and are attracted to.  I tie it differently than most with my Chartreuse color on the bottom wing, and the Pink on the top wing.

 

To tie this fly place your hook in the vice after de-barbing it.  You are now going to tie in your dumbbell eyes on top of the hook shank.  Tie them in with figure eight wraps.  Locate your eyes about the length of the ‘dumbbell’ from the hook eye.  Too often I see tyers putting their eyes too close to the hook shank.  They fail to leave enough room to easily put on the fly’s top wing.  I usually apply and cure Solarez ‘Bone Dry’ resin to my wraps.  You are now going to tie in your Chartreuse Tail.  I tie it in right behind the dumbbell eyes and wrap back to the bend of the hook.  By doing this your able to create a smooth body profile along the top of the hook shank hook shank.  The tail should be approximately 1 hook shank length beyond the bend of the hook.   After affixing the tail, you are now going to tie in your Bill’s Body Braid (or Diamond Braid) near the bend of the hook.  Once tied in, advance your thread to the front of the Dumbbell Eyes.  

Palmer (make ‘touching wraps’) with your braid up the hook shank and criss cross it over your dumbbell eyes.  Tie it off and cut off the butt end.  Also whip finish and cut off your white thread.  I usually coat and cure the Bill’s Body Braid with ‘Bone Dry’ for durability.  Now affix your Pink thread to the hook behind the eye.  You are now going to tie in your White Bucktail.  It’s should extend even with the Chartreuse Tail.  Not a lot is needed, maybe 20-30 fibers.  Tie it in just as you would on a traditional clouser.  On top of the White Bucktail you are going to tie in your Pearl Lateral Line flash.  I usually take 4 strands, double it over my thread, and tie it down on top of the White Bucktail.  Trim it to length, slightly longer than the white bucktail.  Next, tie on the top wing of Pink Bucktail.  Approximately the same amount of material as the White Bucktail portion of the wing.  When tying it in, create an even and tapered head.  Whip finish and cut off the tag end of your thread.  Lastly, I apply more ‘Bone Dry’ to the head of the fly. 

If you have any questions about this fly or would like to submit a Fly of The Month I can be reached at 203 305-3850 or e-mail me at pdinice@frontier.com .