Bodkin / Patterns

California 420 Leech

Streamer · Trout · Smallmouth Bass · Intermediate · 2 versions

Note: Contested against a published dressing: The pattern is named for its body material and we have the wrong one. The source body is Arizona Mega Simi Seal in the "California 420" colour; we store "micro chenille or dubbing, olive/green mottled". Source: Fly Fish Food — "California 420 Leech" (stillwater tutorial, 15 December 2020) — https://www.flyfishfood.com/blogs/stillwater-tutorials/california-420-leech

Reference Recipe

  • Hook jig nymph, 10-14
  • Thread olive 8/0

Materials

  • Bead Gold slotted tungsten (1, sized to hook)
  • Tail Olive ostrich herl (marabou + few strands pearl flash)
  • Body Olive/green mottled material (micro chenille or dubbing)
  • Collar Olive UV material (ice dub or marabou)

How to tie it

  1. Slide a slotted tungsten bead onto the jig hook and start olive thread behind it.
  2. Tie in a slim olive marabou tail about one shank long, with a few strands of pearl flash.
  3. Tie in the body chenille (or spin a dubbing loop) at the tail.
  4. Wrap a lightly tapered olive body forward to just behind the bead.
  5. Add a short olive marabou or UV ice-dub collar and sweep it back for movement.
  6. Whip finish tight behind the bead.

Other versions

1 more in the app: Fly Fish Food Tie.

Tying videos

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