Half and Half.

With the Clouser Minnow and Deceiver, the most widely known and used saltwater flies, it is only natural that a bastardized version of these two extremely patterns develop.

Bob Clouser developed the Half and Half as a way of having a pattern that gives the appearance of bulk with an easy of casting. This pattern has received wide acceptance in all areas of fly fishing.

The Half and Half is really nothing more than a modified Clouser Minnow with the addition of a Deceiver style tail of long and wide saddle hackles. There are several variations of this pattern in the actual tying of the Half and Half but all versions use the Deceiver style tail.

One version has the tail and then the lower wing is tied on the bottom of the fly to the rear of the bar bell eyes with the upper wing tied o in front of the bar bell eyes a la Clouser Minnow style.

A second style has the tail and then the first wing is tied on top of the hook shank directly behind the bar bell eyes and the over wing tied on in front of the bar bell eyes. Either version works very well. In fact, Lefty has told me that he prefers the second version and ties his Clouser Minnow in this manner. If the lower wing is tied on in this style, when you tie on the tail, you wrap the hook shank with thread or some other body wrap material to directly behind the bar bell eyes.

Basically the same color combinations can be used for the Half and Half as either the Deceiver or the Clouser Minnow but always remember that this fly is supposed to represent a baitfish so you can use a color or color combination that closely resembles the baitfish that you are imitating. Generally, the Half and Half is tied on a size 2 or larger hook.

Here are some of the more popular combinations that we use in the US.

All chartreuse with either a white or chartreuse tail
Chartreuse over white with a white tail
Red over white with a white tail
Gray over white with either a gray or white tail
Olive over white with either an olive or white tail
Olive over tan with an olive or white tail
Tan over white with a white tail
Pink over white with either a pink or white tail
Various shades of green over white with a white tail
Various shades of blue over white with a white tail

There are numerous color combinations that are area specific so again, choose the color or color combinations that work best in the area that you are fishing.

On these flies, they use the standard bar bell eyes with a painted pupil and iris. I have begun using the Real Eyes by Spirit River and putting in the stick on eyes on them. They have a recess to accommodate the stick on eyes. Not only are these easier to do, but they look more realistic and are a lot more durable than the painted on eyes.

This is an extremely effective pattern and should be in every fly box.

Here is how to tie the Half and Half

Half and Half.

Good Tying and Tight Lines

Joe Branham