It’s easy to understand what a Clouser is. But I’ve been having a hard time figuring out what made a Deceiver a Deceiver, and not just any old baitfish imitation. I think I’ve finally figured it out, and I’d like to try the idea out here.
Basically, saddle hackle makes a pretty good tail on a streamer, but it has a tendency to foul around the hook during casting. A deceiver adds stiffer bucktail in various configurations to prevent the saddle from fouling. It could be added as a long throat extending beyond the bend of the hook with a wing, or on the sides with a bucktail wing.
Flash of various kinds can be added to give the appearance of a lateral line. Sometimes mylar or braided tinsel is included and sometimes the hookshank is left bare. Sometimes peacock herl is added as a topping.
I guess it doesn’t have to be bucktail, any stiff material that keeps the saddle from fouling would work. Of course, there’s an all “bucktail” deceiver around.
For me, that kind of explains the wide variety of Deceiver recipes that are out there.
Thanks for those links all the way ‘round. I had been doing internet searches on deceivers, but somehow missed the Global Flyfishers’ articles. They very clearly explain what a deceiver is.
I had located the article by Lefty K. that explained how he developed the deceiver while trying to design a fly that used saddle hackle but didn’t foul the hook. That was the light bulb that went off yesterday, and I figured that the bucktail was the trick that prevented the hackle from fouling. I missed the other essential ingredient which is the placement of the hackle, but that’s now obvious after reading the GF article.
I tied up my first deceivers yesterday, and the video will be very useful when I return to the task tonight.
Why am I focusing on deceivers? I want to catch an albie this fall. And I’ll be giving it a shot later this month in Rhode Island. It’s not all that far for me although I plan to back out of the driveway at about 2:30 am!
I’m told that two to four inch clousers and deceivers in chartreuse and white, green and white, and yellow and white are all you will need for that. Other suggestions welcome!