Paul's May 2023 Fly of the Month

Adachi Clouser
a.k.a. California Clouser

Hook:  Gamakatsu 291 60 degree Jig Hook Size #1/0 or Ahrex SA254. 

Thread:  Monofilament.

Eyes:  5.5 mm Dumbbell Eyes a.k.a. 3D Eyes

Tail:  Pearl Flash-a-bou.

Belly:  White or Off White Flash N’ Slinky or SF Blend Fiber.

Gills:  EP Anadromous Brush in red.

Wing:  Chartreuse Flash N’ Slinky topped with Grey or Black Flash N’ Slinky.

 This fly was developed on the West Coast.  What makes this fly something you want to put in your box?  Well, it’s tied on a jig hook and the ‘action’ is much more dramatic than that of a ‘normal’ clouser.  It is also an extremely durable fly, noted for it’s flash tail and the use of ‘artificial’ materials (Flash N’ Slinky) for it’s body. You can easily size this fly to represent any bait fish you want.

To tie this fly place your hook in the vice and mount your dubbell eyes.  The eyes should be mounted approximately a dumbbell eye length beyond the 60 degree bend to the eye.  Use figure 8 wraps to secure them.  Next, tie in 10-12 strands of Flash-a-bou for your tail.  Tie them in behind the eyes and wrap down to the tail. They should extend 4 hook shank lengths beyond the bend.  Coat & cure your eyes and hook shank with UV Resin.  You can also use Epoxy for this step.

Take a bunch of Flash N’ Slinky for your belly.  When stretched it should be  pencil lead width.  You also want to roll it between your fingers for a bit to eliminate the straight edge on your ‘cut’ end.  At the halfway point, tie it in in front of the eyes, then also secure it behind the eyes.  It should be approximately ¾ length of your flash tail.  Fold your Flash N’ Slinky over, again securing it behind your eyes.  You can use your scissors to ‘scrape’ across the end of your tail to give it a tapered outline. 

For your gills, cut a small (maybe 1/3”) of EP Anadromous Brush in Red for your gills.  Once cut, form a ‘V’ with the material.  Tie it in behind the eyes so that the fibers will extend on each side of the hook shank.  After a few ‘soft’ wraps you can adjust the gill material.  Once it’s placed where you want it, bind it down with harder securing wraps.  That completes the belly of the fly. 

You are now going to tie in your wing.  The fly’s originator says that ideally you want 2/3’rds the amount of all material on the top part of your fly.  Take the same amount of Flash N’ Slinky for your wing that you used for the belly.  Again, roll it between your fingers.  Tie it in at the half way point in front of the eyes.  You want to lay half of it on one side of the fly, and the other half on the other side of the fly.  Trim it by sliding your scissors so that it’s ¾ the length of the tail.  Finally, take and prepare contrasting color of Flash-N’-Slinky for the top of your wing.  I usually use Grey or Black to mimic Bait Fish.  Tie it in at the half way point in front of the eyes.  Then, fold it over on top of itself, trim it with your scissors so that’s it’s the same length of your other wing material.  Whip finish it and apply an adhesive to your wraps if desired.

Loon outdoors has a great video on how to tie this fly below:

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

Paul's April 2023 Bonus Fly of the Month

 Purple Haze

Hook:  Dai Riki #300 Size 14 or Dry Fly Hook of choice. 

Thread:  Purple Uni 6/0.

Tail:  Moose Hair or Grizzly & Brown Hackle Fibers.

Body:  Purple Flexi Floss, or Purple Dubbing, or Purple Thread.

Post:  Calf Tail Fibers or Poly-yarn.

Hackle:  Moose Body hair or Brown & Grizzly hackle fibers. 

Finish:  Bottom of the fly is coated with ‘Tough as Nails’. 

This fly was developed by Andy Carlson, the owner and operator of Bitterroot Anglers in Hamilton, Montana.  To tie this fly start your thread 1/3 hook shank length behind the eye.  Take a few wraps rearward and cut off the tag end of your thread.  You are now going to tie in your tail. The original pattern calls for Moose Body hair.  I like to use Brown & Grizzley hackle fibers because in many cases I’m tying the Purple Haze in smaller sizes.  Take about 8-10 fibers and tie them in for your tail.  They should be approximately a hook shank in length.  Take wraps all the way back to the start of the hook bend and then even wraps back up to the tie in point.

Next, prepare & tie in your parachute post.  Again, because I’m usually tying this fly in smaller sizes, I’m going to use Poly-yarn instead of calf tail.  Before the tie in, it should be approximately 1 hook shank in length.  Secure it on top of the hook shank with a pinch wrap.  Now wrap rearward to secure it.  With your thread form an evenly tapered body for the fly.  Now, stand up the longer end of the Post.  Create a thread dam in front of it to lift the post.  Apply some head cement to the base of your post and take a few thread wraps around the base. 

Leave your thread in front of the post.  Prepare your Grizzly and Brown Hackles.  Snip off the stems where the fibers start to become webby.  Now strip the barbules about a ¼ of an inch on each side to give you a bare stem.  Lay the hackles together and place the stems to the near side of the fly, right behind the hook eye and across the post.  Take securing wraps with your thread.  Wrap from the eye to your post, then raise the hackle to vertical and take some securing wraps around your post.  Bring your thread back down and leave it in front of the post.  You can now wrap your hackles.  You can do that in tandem or individually, clockwise around the post.  Take wraps down to the hook shank, then tie them off with your thread.  Clip off your excess hackle, then whip finish around the hook shank or the post, which ever is your preference.  Clip off your thread and errant hackle fibers and you’re done.

I like to treat all my dry flies with High N’ Dry fly flotant, but that’s all up to you.

Tightlinevideo has a great instructional video on how to tie the Purple Haze below:

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