Chip Gouger (of The Fly Shop) told me last year that he had sworn off Clousers because the upturned hook was gouging the brain pan of too many small fish. On faster retrieves I've generally gotten the classic upper-lip hook with Clousers, but this year (fishing more dead drifts and wet fly swings) I've had several small fish inhale the things all the way down their gullets. Even with barbless hooks it's hard to release them gently. Last night I cut off a fly and left it deep in a schoolie.
I'm pondering whether to swear off Clousers as well, or to develop an approach to them that will minimize the odds of this kind of damage.
Any thoughts from the choir?