Work often sends me around the country and after I finish doing what ever it is I am supposed to do in that area I usually have several hours to kill before my departing flight. Typically I hop on google and find the nearest fly shop just to check it out and maybe buy a hat, materials, or some other gear. Several weeks ago I was in Harrisburg PA with the aforementioned situation.
My blackberry informed me that the nearest fly shop was Clouser’s fly shop. I grabbed a taxi and soon was in a small neighborhood. When we arrived at the given address I thought we were lost as it was in front a white house in the neighborhood and a man was walking his dog in the front yard. Sure enough it was the proper place and it was Bob Clouser walking the dog. He runs his shop out of his house, however he informed me that he was in the process of closing and would be operating solely on the web. It was truly a pleasure getting to pick his brain about fly tying over the next hour or so. Not only was he incredibly knowledgeable, but equally kind and generous.
Yes moons he did, specifically for smallmouth bass in a river up there, I believe the Susquehanna? Def could be wrong on that. Best fly created ever IMO. That’s cool he runs it out of his house, great you got to meet him.
HIall, Just stopped in to say hello from Pittsburgh. bob Clouser, what a hoot, and real down to earth flyfisherman.
Here’s a good story that involves Clouser.
Was fishing the Yough river here in PA last year with Bob and 5 others in 2 drift boats. We were fishing close together talking about where we were going to stop for lunch, when Bob hooks up with a nice smallmouth. Bob got some applause for some rafters that were about 30 feet away and a small boy in the front of the raft asked,
“whatya catch him on, a CLouser?”
Little did the youngster know, yes it was a Clouser by the Clouser!
We laughed for a good long while on that one.
ScottyD, did those flies work for you at all? Never did get a chance to try then while I was there. By the way I have the same lamp in my office .
Tie one on. Jeff in PA
jeff, i thought i recoginized that story! how dahell are ya? yes, the one with the bluish hue has nailed a few. i fashoned a weedguard for it and it has been a go-to recently . when ya headed back down? thanks again for the book, it is a great read!
Yep, he is the clouser guy. The clouser deep minnow was rated top fly of all time by Field and Stream. That is top fly over fresh AND salt water flies. Pretty dang impressive.
