BaitfishbeginnerGreat Lakes
Clouser Minnow (Smallmouth)
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Source Clouser Minnow (Smallmouth)
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Regional source directory
Musky Fool
Matched on Great Lakes, baitfish flies, smallmouth bass. Great Lakes predator shop and guide brand with musky-specific fly inventory.
Schultz Outfitters
Matched on Great Lakes, baitfish flies, smallmouth bass. Michigan and Great Lakes shop lead for steelhead, trout, and smallmouth patterns.
Orvis Fly Catalog
Matched on baitfish flies, bass, clouser. Broad retail catalog for standard trout, warmwater, salmon/steelhead, and saltwater patterns.
Murray's Fly Shop
Matched on baitfish flies, smallmouth bass, smallmouth. Appalachian trout and smallmouth source with long-running regional fly catalog depth.
These are independent businesses. A listing does not imply endorsement or partnership. TWG currently receives no purchase commission from these links. Any future paid or affiliate relationship will be labeled beside the relevant link.
Bob Clouser designed this fly specifically for smallmouth bass on the Susquehanna River, and the smallmouth of the Great Lakes have been falling for it ever since. The lead eyes give it a jigging action on the retrieve that triggers the 'must eat immediately' response hardwired into every bronze-flanked bass. It is the rare fly that works better the less you do with it.
Quick Facts
Where to Fish It
Lake St. Clair
MI · Great Lakes Shoreline
Muskegon River
MI · River
Fox River
IL · River
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Related Reading
region guide
Great Lakes Fly Fishing: From Hex Hatches to Musky
The Great Lakes region offers a staggering diversity of fly fishing — from legendary Hex hatches on northern Michigan rivers to chrome steelhead on Lake Erie tributaries and trophy muskellunge in the bays. This is the complete guide to fishing the freshwater coast.
seasonal playbook
The Summer Guide: Long Days and Willing Fish
Summer is fly fishing's season of abundance. Sixteen-hour days, prolific hatches, aggressive fish, and the full spectrum from mountain trout to saltwater flats. This is your playbook for making the most of the warmest, longest, most generous months of the fishing year.
species science
The Bronze Back: Smallmouth Bass on the Fly
Smallmouth bass fight harder than trout, eat more aggressively than largemouth, and live in some of the most beautiful water on the continent. From Driftless spring creeks to Great Lakes tributaries to Appalachian smallmouth rivers, the bronze back demands respect and rewards understanding.
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