Glenn's Leech
By Elaine Cook
Are you 5-Dot bound? Lots of these little creatures inhabit the little lake there, so having a few imitations in your box would be wise. Many, many other stillwaters also have leeches, and trout love them.
Glenn's Leech
By Elaine Cook
Are you 5-Dot bound? Lots of these little creatures inhabit the little lake there, so having a few imitations in your box would be wise. Many, many other stillwaters also have leeches, and trout love them.
| Hook: | Tiemco TMC 2487 sizes 8-12 Curved shrimp/scud/caddis pupa Also Eagle Claw L055 Mustad C49S Daiichi 1120 Dai-Riki 135 |
| Weight: | Lead wire (or non-toxic substitute) the same diameter as hook shank |
| Thread: | red 6/0 (black for black leeches) |
| Tail: | rabbit fur strip: brown for 5 Dot black and red are common, too |
| Rib: | fine gold wire |
| Body: | marabou, color to match tail |
1. Crimp barb.
2. Cover middle third of shank with close wraps of weighting wire.
3. Start tying thread in front of the weighting wire wraps. Wrap thread in layers to make a taper from the hook shank to the weighting wire. Spiral thread tightly over the weighting wire several times to secure it, then form a taper between the bare hook shank and the rear of the weighting wire. (Optional) Cover the weighted portion of the shank with cement to secure and seal the wire.
4. Cut a strip of rabbit fur (on the hide) the same width as the weighted part of the hook shank, and one hook gap long. The fur should lay along the length of the strip (no cross-cut strips).
5. Note the direction of the nap and stroke the hairs to lay down naturally to the rear of the strip. Pull the hair off of the front third of the strip. If the hair is hard to remove without tearing the hide, cut it as close to the hide as you can with scissors or razor blade.
6. Tie in the fur strip so the bare section covers the shank behind the weighting wraps.
7. Tie in the gold ribbing wire along the near side of the shank at the rear with the excess extending to the rear.
8. Select 15-20 marabou fibers. Tie them in by the tips at the rear of the shank, at the end of the bare portion of the rabbit fur strip. Bring the thread forward to one eye length behind the eye.
9. Moisten the marabou fibers for easier handling.
10. Wrap the marabou fibers, all together, to one eye length behind the eye.
11. Counter-wrap the ribbing wire over the marabou in about six evenly spaced turns. Tie it off and break the excess off.
12. Wrap a thread head, whip finish and cut excess thread.
This fly will be relatively weedless because the weight tends to make it ride hook point up. Fish it near the bottom with very slow, short strips which will cause a slight jigging motion. If you ever have a chance to watch a leech swim, pay close attention to its movements so you can imitate them with your stripping.
[Each of you club members is welcome and encouraged to submit your favorite fly for publication here. Please include a picture with your words of wisdom about why itŐs your favorite, how to tie it and how to fish it.]