Just tied up my first Clousers.
1/0 2x Tarpon Mustad Hooks, C68S SS
X-Small Brass Hourglass
DNA Material
5 Minute Epoxy Heads,

I used the Saddle, Fiqure 8 wraps to secure the eyes.

Is there too much material on these?
Took a few to get the epoxy down. A little bit goes a long way.

Not bad looking,but you tied them upsidedown!!!
I tie mine downsideup!!!

You might want to tie them with the bulk of the material on the gap side of the hook. It is the material distribution that makes a Clouser ride the way it should...upside down.

Faulkners is right, most people assume the eyes will keep it riding right, but they're so close to the hook shaft that the bulk of material placement will have more effect. Otherwise, they look great! You'll catch fish.

Thanks guys I will try that. I have read that but tied it like the one I got from the fly shop.

I think they'll work, I'll have to find some of my misfit flys that look like junk but catch. plus all bad flys can have a good life as cod/haddock teasers.

After reading some articles by Bob Clouser I thinned the material down. A sparsley tied clouser seems the way to go. In doing this I also made more of the material on the side that rides up. Can't wait to try em.

I also tie much sparser. If you look at most small Atlantic baitfish, they have a more translucent look to them. And, tying more sparsely will allow more freedom of movement for the fibers, adding more lifelike action. They'll sink better, too. Less resistance.

Like Baldwin said sparserwill sink better and they cast better also. Ron

Fly's are a real funny thing. You can have a wonderful professional tyer out fishing with some of the sexiest looking fly's going.... and he's can get outfished by a newbe tyer that has very little experience. Its all about catching, your gonna kill them.

those look good. reading this thread was great, i never realized that the material distribution really mattered, but it makes perfect sense after reading this.

one thing i would suggest is stay away from the 5 minute epoxy. the stuff yellows really fast. try the 30 minute route and you won't be dissapointed.

Tynan..
no good, try again.. send them to me for disposal :D

Just keep Tyin they will get better:D
Heres how I use to do"em
GOOD LUCK GOODTYIN:kewl:

I have been practicing and I think I got it. When I hold them up to the window they are pretty much transparent. Then when I turn to hold them with the sun they light up.

Bryan, I have tied so many I can dispose of some.

If you're tying to catch fish, get the silhouette and length close to the bait that the fish would normally be eating, and get it in front of their face. For a clouser, make sure it rides hook up.. If you're trying to catch fishermen, then all the other stuff matters. I find fishermen to be much more picky than the fish with saltwater streamers.

A few from my second batch. I think I need to stagger the hair a little better or just cut them to round out a little more in the back.

02

much better now man, just keep tying and they'll get better. We all started making not so great looking flies and they get better with practice.
Good Luck & Tight Lines

Don't cut or stack the wing...leave them as is. You're not making paintbrushes. They will look more natural and swim better with a tapered uneven wing. You can and should pull a part of the bunch of hair or synthetics you are using to make the wing to make them un-even. Also, extending whatever flash material you are using a short distance beyond the wing will give the fly a more seductive action.

Thanks guys for the advice.

Looking good. Hit the SWE show, bring em in with ya to discuss with the guys. They helped my son and I last year.

Tremendous difference from the first pics to the last. All good advice from the other guys. I follow the less is more fly tying theory also. One thing, you don't have to use the biggest dumbells either. Small in that regard I like better than the biggest/heaviest eyes. This is just one more reason why the resources on S-B.com make it stand out.

Thanks guys. I have been tying some Ray's Flys also that I will post for some feedback. Thanks again.

I usually let the flash extend about 1/4" beyond the other material. The turbulence from water flowing through the fibers really makes that flash enticing.