Susquehanna Smallmouth patterns

The gray and white variation of the Clouser Minnow

Most people know that the Susquehanna River was the birthplace of the Clouser minnow. Bob Clouser´s shop in Middletown is a must stop if you visit the area. Just about any color combination is successful at one time or another. My favorites are olive over white, chartreuse over white, gray over white, and brown over orange.

An olive and white variation of the famous pattern.

Most people know that the Susquehanna River was the birthplace of the Clouser minnow. Bob Clouser's shop in Middletown is a must stop if you visit the area. Just about any color combination is successful at one time or another. My favorites are olive over white, chartreuse over white, gray over white, and brown over orange.

An orange and brown variation of the famous pattern.

Most people know that the Susquehanna River was the birthplace of the Clouser minnow. Bob Clouser's shop in Middletown is a must stop if you visit the area. Just about any color combination is successful at one time or another. My favorites are olive over white, chartreuse over white, gray over white, and brown over orange.

This albino pattern is tied to immitate chub

A great chub imitation, I like to fish this one in slower pools where the marabou and rabbit fur give that extra motion to the fly. I also like to substitute estaz for the spun rabbit fur onsome flies to add a little extra flash.

A traditional black Woolly Bugger with extra weight added

Probably my best fly on the Susquehanna River. I tie them in black (hellgrammite or leech), brown (crayfish), and gray, usually weighted with lead wire or a bead or two. I like to use a rabbit strip as a tail for slower water. I think a Grey, Black or Copper Frede would translate very well here.

One of the World's most efficient and universal flies In a brown version developed for the smallmouth in the Susquehanna River.

robably my best fly on the Susquehanna river. I tie them in black (hellgrammite or leech), brown (crayfish), and gray, usually weighted with lead wire or a bead or two. I like to use a rabbit strip as a tail for slower water. I think a Grey, Black or Copper Frede would translate very well here.

One of the World's most efficient and universal flies - this one is gray as opposed to the traditionally black version.

robably my best fly on the Susquehanna river. I tie them in black (hellgrammite or leech), brown (crayfish), and gray, usually weighted with lead wire or a bead or two. I like to use a rabbit strip as a tail for slower water. I think a Grey, Black or Copper Frede would translate very well here.

A small variation over the black Woolly Bugger utilizing the mobility of rabbit fur.

Probably my best fly on this river. I tie them in black (hellgrammite or leech), brown (crayfish), and gray, usually weighted with lead wire or a bead or two. I like to use a rabbit strip as a tail for slower water. I think a Grey, Black or Copper Frede would translate very well here.

An imitation of the small baitfish river shiner

This is my most recent imitation of the river shiner, probably the most prevalent baitfish in the area. I took the pattern from a saltwater fly tied by Mike Martinek at a United Fly Tyers´ meeting and adjusted the color scheme. The best color so far has been olive over white, but I'm tying plenty of gray/white and violet/white.

It might not be beautiful, but it works...

This is an excellent fly for short line nymphing in fast riffles--the bass hit this one very hard. Don't be afraid to tie this one large--I've seen hellgrammites 5 or 6 inches long! The ostrich herl tail gives this fly a distinctive swimming action in the water.

When it comes to the Crayfish Small is better than large for the bigger fish

There are plenty of good crayfish patterns especially the Clouser and Whitlock flies. I keep my version very simple. For this fly, the "big fly for big bass" rule is the exception. A small crayfish (2 inches or less) with small pinchers is preferable to a larger imitation. Brown over orange and olive over yellow are two good color cominations.

Generic upside-down pattern for fishing on and near the bottom.

Thanks for the pattern Martin! I had an incredible day a few weeks ago using a white/silver version of this fly. I landed over 150 fish, with a large chunk of them coming on the kluting. This has quickly become one of my favorite all around searching patterns. In addition to white/silver, I tie these in the usual drab olive and black. I’ve also used wool for the head--its a little easier to tie and shape around the lead eyes.

A heavy upside down pattern for bottom fishing for many species.

Thanks for the pattern Martin! I had an incredible day a few weeks ago using a white/silver version of this fly. I landed over 150 fish, with a large chunk of them coming on the Kluting. This has quickly become one of my favorite all around searching patterns. In addition to white/silver, I tie these in the usual drab olive and black. I've also used wool for the head--its a little easier to tie and shape around the lead eyes.